By Alpha Abu
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Emma Kowa Jalloh has told journalists that the Ministry is increasing measures to counter illegal fishing and enable proper stock assessment of the country’s marine resources.
Speaking at the weekly news briefing at the ministry of information, she explained about the government’s focus on creating a profitable sector that contributes to the socio-economic development of the country through sustainable management and utilisation of fisheries resources whilst at the same time conserving the environment.
She said the Monitoring Control and Service Capability of the Ministry was being enhanced through the efforts of the Joint Maritime Committee that conducts regular sea surveillance using a mid-range patrol vessel, in-shore patrol craft and inflated boats at their disposal.
The minister boasted of now having a state-of-the-art Vessel Monitoring System with which they could see from the office or the JMC happenings at sea. She spoke about the scientific observers trained last year who board vessels and collect data for assessment by the ministry.
Mrs Jalloh also highlighted a Memorandum of Understanding signed last year between the Fisheries Ministry and the Chinese government that saw a vessel sent to Sierra Leone to assist in stocktaking, which was hampered by the outbreak of coronavirus disease.
However earlier survey results indicate that estimated standing stock stands at between 300,000 and 500,000 metric tonnes pelagic with the process on-going. She said the information gathered would help them determine the number of vessels that would be given a license to go out at sea for fishing. The minister also acknowledged that the artisanal sector was growing and that the Fisheries Ministry was intending to collaborate with the Ministry of Local Government so that the latter could assist in areas such as inspecting the date of manufacture of the local boats now said to number 12,000 in total, so they would keep tab on what goes out to sea. At present the government earns 11.7 million dollars as annual revenue from fishing.
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