GOVERNMENT OF SIERRA LEONE

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES

PRESS RELEASE

REBUTTAL OF NEGATIVE PRESS REPORT ON THE DISTRIBUTION OF THE 7,000 BAGS OF RICE DURING THE SEASONAL CLOSURE FOR THE ARTISANAL FISHERIES SUBSECTOR IN FEBRUARY 2025

Freetown, Monday May 5th 2025. The attention of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has been drawn to repeated, Newspaper Publications and the propagation of unverified information on social media, concerning 7,000 bags of Rice the Ministry received from Government. The rice in question was meant to assuage the associated burden of the one (1) month Closed Season that was imposed during the month of February 2025 as one of the several fisheries management measures to allow replenishment of the depleting fish stocks. The Ministry particularly targeted the registered and licensed artisanal boats owners and crew members.

The general public may, however wish to note that the rice under contention, was only officially handed over to the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security by the Chinese Government in April 2025, out of which, 7000 bags were subsequently handed over to the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources after the Closed Season has ended.

The public should be informed that prior to the implementation of the Closed Season, the Minister had made commitment to cushion the economic burden on the vulnerable artisanal fisherfolks by distributing rice to all licensed artisanal boat owners and crews. So far a total of 2,500 bags of rice was distributed to licensed boat owners based on what was made available by a considerate supplier on loan during that challenging period.

This Press Release serves to inform the general public and to make the following clarifications for edification of all and to assure the public of the Ministry’s openness to provide any further information one may require:

That the 7.000 (seven thousand) bags of rice under contention is safely stacked at the Pee Cee & Sons Warehouse since the time the Ministry took possession of it, awaiting further determination as may be deemed appropriate for the good of the original intended beneficiaries;

That all enquiries of veracity of the above assertions should be directed to the Media Unit of the Ministry on the following numbers: +23278502070/34838485/79115754

THE END

PERMANENT SECRETARY

MINISTRY OF FISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES