Peep Sierra Leone

The Chief Campaigner of the Environmental Justice Foundation, Duncan Coplan has heaped praises on the minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Afsatu Kabba for putting measures in place that would address the rampant illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing practices in the country.

The EJF Chief Campaigner made this statement during a discussion with the minister on the issue of research on Fisheries Management in Sierra Leone. Mr. Coplan cited a report which stated that Sierra Leone is losing over twenty-nine million US dollars yearly as a result of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.

The report, he said was published in the interest of the country and pledged his organization's desire to provide a patrol vessel that would help in the surveillance of the country's territorial waters.

He also promised to organize a workshop on Fisheries Management and appreciated Sierra Leone's commitment to upholding the UN's Convention on the Law of the Sea as well as the Ports State Measures signed in Rome.

Responding, Haja Afsatu Kabba thanked the EJF Campaigner for the compliment and thanked members of the organization for identifying themselves with problems facing Sierra Leone's Fishing Industry. She also thanked EJF for producing what she referred to as a "well researched" documentary on artisanal and fishing industry in Sierra Leone, saying that it will go a long way in exposing the activities of unscrupulous fishing vessels operators.

With particular reference to the just ended ceremony of the launching of the Pilot Project for Sustainable Coastal Zone Management in Sierra Leone, Madam Kabba said that her ministry has taken the lead in instituting and enforcing a ban on all illegal fishing activities such as the use of small mesh size nets and destructive fishing methods such as "Channel" and "Mina" Fishing that target juvenile fish.

In order to protect and conserve the country's coastal and marine biodiversity, Mrs. Afsatu Kabba said that with the help of the EU-funded "Institutional Support to Fisheries Management Project" and other stakeholders, her ministry has proposed four Marine Protected Areas -the Scarcies River Estuary, the Sierra Leone River Estuary, the Yawry Bay, Kagboro Creek, and the Sherbro River Estuary along the coast of Sierra Leone.

The Minster appealed to other ministries, departments, and agencies to join her ministry in the fight to protect the country's biodiversity and thanked donors and other partners for their support.

Mean while, the  Fisheries Minister has at a press conference briefed members of  the "Fourth Estate" on a number of  issues relating to her ministry  including regulations governing  the fisheries sector.

She intimated that due to the widespread use of illegal fishing methods, the ministry  a has undertaken a nationwide elimination of destructive artisanal fishing gears with the objective of promoting responsible  exploitation of Fisheries Resources for improved fish yields and increase income for artisanal fishers.

In a bid to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, she further disclosed that her ministry has signed an agreement with the U.S.A. Coast Guards to carry out fisheries patrols in Sierra Leone's maritime waters. This initiative, Mrs. Kabba revealed has resulted in the arrest of a number of illegal fishing boats.

The Minster also informed the press that the ministry in partnership with other stakeholders  has commenced the mandatory inspection of  all fishing vessels at Kissy Dockyard  with a view to facilitating the monitoring of their landing obligations, minimize risks of importation of harmful drugs and narcotics, ensuring fishing vessels owners adhere to Fisheries Regulations and key conservation measures.

She lamented that vessels operators are constantly violating rules and regulations governing the Fisheries Sector with impunity thereby depriving Government of the much needed revenue.

Hon. Kabba also used the occasion to urge fish vessels owners to go for inspection at Kissy Dock Yard where the exercise has already commenced. "If you are handsome or beautiful, then come to the contest", she joked.

A visual presentation of documentary on artisanal and industrial fishing in Sierra Leone by the Chief Campaigner of EFJ, Duncan Coplan formed part of the programme.