Environmental advocate Kemo Fatty raised alarms about Gambia's Deep-Sea Mining Project during a Tuesday interview. The Green-Up Gambia founder expressed surprise at the sudden announcement and foundation stone ceremony. Fatty emphasized his position stems from concerns about transparency rather than outright opposition. He called for rigorous scrutiny before the government proceeds with further development. The project announcement caught many conservation advocates off guard.
Fatty criticized officials for excluding civil society organizations from planning discussions. Environmental groups possess valuable ground-level insights that strengthen policy formation. The absence of meaningful consultation undermines public trust and environmental governance principles. Green-Up Gambia and similar organizations received no advance notification about the initiative. This exclusion breeds skepticism among communities and advocacy groups.
The ocean floor represents a fragile ecosystem that suffers irreversible damage when disturbed. Marine biodiversity faces threats alongside disrupted fish migration and breeding cycles. Seabed sediment contamination poses additional environmental risks that affect long-term sustainability. Gambia currently lacks adequate monitoring capabilities for offshore industrial operations. The country needs improved equipment, trained personnel, and legal frameworks before pursuing deep-sea mining activities.
Fatty criticized officials for excluding civil society organizations from planning discussions. Environmental groups possess valuable ground-level insights that strengthen policy formation. The absence of meaningful consultation undermines public trust and environmental governance principles. Green-Up Gambia and similar organizations received no advance notification about the initiative. This exclusion breeds skepticism among communities and advocacy groups.
The ocean floor represents a fragile ecosystem that suffers irreversible damage when disturbed. Marine biodiversity faces threats alongside disrupted fish migration and breeding cycles. Seabed sediment contamination poses additional environmental risks that affect long-term sustainability. Gambia currently lacks adequate monitoring capabilities for offshore industrial operations. The country needs improved equipment, trained personnel, and legal frameworks before pursuing deep-sea mining activities.
