Fisherwomen's work behind the market stall

A 2026 newspaper report describes fisherwomen working across the Gambian small-scale fisheries value chain nationally as traders, processors and smokers, often labouring in smokehouses with deteriorating structures, rusted roofing, no rain protection, and daily exposure to thick smoke without masks or gloves. The report also describes economic pressure from rising fish and salt costs and from industrial fishmeal operations competing for the same small pelagic species that women need for processing. ^{[foroyaa-fisherwomen-2026]}

Bakau's own fish market, photographed in 2007, is one of the country's longstanding landing and trading points where this kind of women's work happens. The report itself does not name Bakau specifically, so this entry links the market as an illustrative site of a documented national pattern, not as direct reporting on Bakau's own working conditions. ^{[commons-bakau-fishmarket-2007]}