Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources has imposed a temporary ban on fishing activities to rebuild stock and prevent over exploitation of species.
The one month ‘closed season’ has commenced on April 1, 2022, according to a public notice which was put out by the Fisheries Ministry on Tuesday, March 28, 2022.
The Ministry said that the objectives of the ‘closed season’ is to reduce fishing pressure, rebuild fish stock and prevent over exploitation of species.
During the closed period, no fishing should be done by artisanal boats in the Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) and fishing companies must ensure that their sales agents distribute fish evenly and at affordable prices.
“No export by land, Sea and Air of fish from all operators of fishing vessels, fish processing establishment, Artisanal fishermen and the general public during the closed period,” the Ministry said in the statement.
In addition, all fishing company should stock their cold room with various types of fish species and quantity, proportionate to the number of fishing vessels which they operate before the start of closed season, and “all industrial and decked semi-industrial fishing vessels should report to port on or before 23: 59 hours on the 31 March, 2022 and should have their vendor management system (VMS) on at all times with exception of Tuna Fishing Vessels”.
The artisanal fishermen should collaborate with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to ensure that all fish caught by artisanal fishermen are sold to the local market, according to the statement.
“The ban would be enforced with other stakeholders in the fishing sector including the ministry of trade, Navy, Marine police, Customs, Sierra Leone Industrial fishing Association and the Artisanal Fishermen Consortium with advice from the Director of Fisheries and Scientific, Economic and Technical Committee of the Ministry,” the ministry said
The Ministry assured the public that it would work closely with stakeholders to intensify monitoring and surveillance of the country’s territorial waters during the closed period.
By George M.O. Williams