The Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources with support from the World Bank and  Embassy of Iceland in Sierra Leone has organized a two-day Retreat with the objective of developing a  Strategic Vision and Roadmap for the development of the Fisheries and Marine Resources sector in Sierra Leone.

The programme which was held at the MOZZA Beach Resort, York Village, Peninsular, Western Rural Area District,  from 23rd–24th October, 2024, focused on enhancing the productivity and sustainability of fisheries, thereby boosting economic growth and ensuring food security , capacity building and technical support to improve the management and  utilization of fisheries resources through the creation of a strategic and actionable document.

In her Keynote Address, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, while welcoming partners to the programme, described the initiative as “fulfilling”.She said her ministry considers the initiative as an important reform activity and priority step to facilitate the development of a Strategic and Action Plan that could result to an important National Fisheries Project to be be funded by World Bank and Iceland.

Dilating on the challenges facing the sector, Mrs. Dugba pointed out that experience had shown that illegal fishing practice in the Artisanal Fisheries Sector is more destructive to the country’s  Fisheries industry.

In an effort to address this, she intimated that her ministry is implementing seasonal closure for the Industrial Fisheries Sector in the month of April, every year, adding that, similar measure for the Artisanal Fisheries Sector will be implemented in February, 2025.

This precautionary management approach, she furthered, would lead to the rebuilding of the country’s declining fish stock.

She highlighted key areas that are needed to be supported including instituting capacity building programmes for Community Management Associations, to man Marine Protected Areas, initiatives and infrastructures that promote value addition.

The Minister used the occasion to call on development partners both local and at at International levels to be able  complement her ministry’s efforts in actualizing the sector’s Strategic Vision or ensuring a Roadmap for a sustainable management and development of the country’s Fisheries and Marine Resources.

Head of Mission, Embassy of Iceland, Asdis Bjarnadottirr, said the partnership between her country and Sierra Leone started wayback in 2018 and is meant to be extended to  enhancing peoples’ livelihoods in fishing communities by increasing access to basic services such as water and sanitation, among others.

She spoke about the invaluable role a well-managed fisheries sector plays in promoting socio-economic development of a country and said she’s looking forward to seeing a strategic vision and roadmap be designed that would enable Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector to realize its potential and profits.

Representatives from the World Bank, Lia Sieghart and Marcelo who delivered their statements online, underscored the importance of the programme and thanked the organisers in Sierra Leone for the initiative.  They said it would enhance the mobilisation of necessary resources for the development of the fisheries sector.

The experts abroad also emphasized the need to promote responsible fishing practices, while address issues relating to climate change, adaptation and community resilience, while pledging for a continued support by the banks.

Acting Director of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Sheku Sei, who also acknowledged the importance of the event, said the initiative had come as a result of the current Minister of Fisheries quest for a Strategic Vision and Roadmap that would attract sustainable funding for the development of the sector.

The initiative, he added would also address key management measures including, Quota Management System and Seasonal Closure of the country’s territorial waters, among others to promote government’s ambition and vision for a viable and prosperous sector.

Statements and Presentations of papers on various topics were also made by  Fisheries experts including Technical Staff from the Ministry of Fisheries, followed by a Case Study presented by  representatives from Iceland, one of the World’s Leaders in Fisheries Management.

The two-day interactive programme, was chaired by an Environmental Specialist from the World Bank, Dr. Ralph Bona, who addressed a number of critical issues bordering on revenue, generation data collection and stock evaluation, livelihoods and sustainability dimensions as well as private sector involvement into fishing investments.

By MFMR Media Unit