Fishermen at the Yawri wharf in Tombo in the Western Rural District have on Friday January 8, 2021 said that, the outlawing of some of the fishing nets by the government has affected their livelihood leaving some of them out of jobs.
The use of monofilament nets was banned as part of the measures to prevent depletion of stocks arising from the collection of immature fish and other water species. This is because the lines of monofilament nets are too small and difficult to spot when submerged in water. Other prohibited nets are seine nets, cast nets, trawl nets and gill nets.
Thomas Ortham Turay, the president of the Sierra Leone Artisanal Fishermen Union said that there are 7,500 registered and over 150 unregistered fishermen according to their statistic for 2020. He said that the majority of that number has been made jobless due to Governments’ outlawry of monofilament fishing nets.
He contends that fishermen now find it difficult to sustain their livelihood within the fishing industry in Sierra Leone. He said that generally fishermen think of the sea as a source of their hope for a better life, but now for some fishermen the sea no longer represents hope of anything better in life.
He added that the Government of Sierra Leone has promised to replace the outlawed fishing nets, but had not fulfilled that promise.
He emphasized, “Government restricted us from using some of our fishing nets and promised to bring in more new nets in replacement of the outlawed ones which they said we shall pay for. Paying for the nets is now our problem, but the delay in Government’s bringing of the net is another problem. Some fishermen have abandoned their fishing nets without replacement which has left them with no hope at the wharf.”
“It is really difficult for us now, after we have spent millions of Leones to buy nets, then so suddenly we are asked to abandon them,” he retorted.
He called on the government to release the prescribed fishing nets they promised to do with a reasonable price, noting that the fishing industry is an employer of many youths whose hands could possibly be the devils plaything if they continue be out of employment.
He explained that the industry creates employment facility to youths across the country, which he said is a great help to the government.
“We contribute greatly in developing the country’s economy by paying taxes and other dues. At the same times, we provide food and nutrition to the country.”
Abu bakar Kamara, a fisherman at the wharf, said that over four months now he has been unable to properly care for his home and family.
“Now, I only survive through the help of colleague fishermen who usually come to my aid in terms of food. Nets which I used to feed my family with and pay my house rent has been banned by the government leaving me with no hope. They are our rulers we cannot go against their words, but we are only appealing that they should bring the promised nets to us with a reasonable price that would not affect us,” he said.
By Ibrahim S.Bangura
8/01/2021. ISSUE NO:7975