By Saio Marrah
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Emma Kowa Jalloh has announced the closure of the fishing season for industrial fishing boats effective 1st May to 31st May 2021.
Speaking at the Ministry of Information and Communication’s weekly press briefing on Thursday, 6th May, 2021, she explained that the closing season was reintroduced so as to replenish fish stocks. “The ministry in a bid to continue to provide the necessary enabling environment for development of the sector and to perform its traditional role as custodian of the vast fish revenue, it has again declared one-month close season on all industrial and semi-industrial trawler vessels”, she said.
The minister added: “In order to make this exercise meaningful and successful, the ministry has taken decision on the following; (1) No industrial or semi industrial either local or foreign investors shall engage in fishing through this period, (2) In order to minimize the scarcity of fish for sale in the local markets, all exports of fish in whatever form or shape be suspended with immediate effect”.
According to her the mandate of the ministry includes the unique role of the conservation of fish stocks and maintenance of ecosystem through the implementation of responsible fishing practices.
Jalloh explained about the ministry’s position on “how to maintain balance between revenue generation and avoiding the over exploitation of fish stocks”.
She acknowledged that the ban will be a tough period for the fishermen and fishing companies and that shortage of fish in the local market is expected, but she encouraged all to make sacrifices: “It is better for us to give biological rest period of what is left in our oceans so that they can multiply and grow bigger,” she said.
According to Jalloh, they have made an arrangement with fishing industries to be selling fish in the local market at a whole sale so as to avoid sudden increase in price at the local markets.
She said the use of explosive dynamite by fishermen and the fishing industry is at all times banned.
She added that it is not a secret that human activities have led to scarcity of fish in the local markets.
The Minister said fish is one of the most important and affordable source of protein for over 80% Sierra Leoneans. She said it has an average protein digestibility of 82% compared to Red Meat and rice, which she said are 14% to 15% and 7 percent respectively.
She said the sector also contributes to food security, employment and economic growth.
The minister revealed that fish revenue contributes 12% to Gross Domestic Product (GDP), which she said makes the sector the second highest contributor to the economy of the country.
She therefore encouraged all in the fishing industry not to be involved in exporting fish during and after the close season without the approval of the ministry. She also encouraged all security forces and community leaders at the border areas not to allow exportation of fish.
Copyright © 2021 Politico Online
