In a proactive effort to promote sustainable fisheries management and conserve marine resources in line with international best practices, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR), in collaboration with the Sierra Leone Artisanal Fishermen Consortium, is preparing to implement a Closed Season for artisanal and industrial fishing from February 1 to February 28, 2025.
As part of its sensitization campaign, the MFMR leadership, including the Minister of Fisheries, Princess Dugba; Deputy Minister, Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara; Permanent Secretary, Brima Kebbie; and Acting Director of Fisheries, Sheku Sei, visited fishing communities across Sierra Leone. Their outreach aimed to educate stakeholders on the importance of the Closed Season and its potential benefits for the nation's fisheries resources.
Promoting Sustainable Practices
Speaking to fishing communities in Tombo and Bonthe, Minister Dugba highlighted the Closed Season as a critical element of the ministry’s management plan to conserve Sierra Leone’s fish stocks. She reaffirmed the government’s commitment to sustainable fisheries management as a means of safeguarding the livelihoods of fishing communities and enhancing national food security.
The Minister also emphasized the need for artisanal fishers to register and obtain licenses, ensuring they benefit from government support during the Closed Season. To mitigate the economic impact on fishing communities, she announced plans for alternative livelihood support, including:
Social activities, such as a football gala.
Free mobile medical services.
Ensuring access to affordable fish and fisheries products during the closure.
Stakeholder Support and Challenges
During visits to Moa Wharf, Old Wharf, Portee Rokupa, Sulima, and Gbondapi, Acting Director of Fisheries Sheku Sei described the initiative as essential for achieving the objectives of the government’s Feed Salone Program, boosting revenue generation, and protecting fish stocks. He urged fishers to adopt sustainable practices to preserve Sierra Leone's status as one of the sub-region’s richest sources of fisheries and marine resources.
Deputy Minister Haja Isata Abdulai Kamara reinforced this message while engaging fishers in Port Loko and Kambia Districts. She appealed to stakeholders to abandon harmful fishing methods and embrace environmentally friendly practices that would ensure the long-term viability of their primary source of income.
Gbessay Kanu, Interim Head of the National Consortium of Fishermen, pledged his group’s commitment to ensuring compliance with the Closed Season regulations and called on fellow fishers to cooperate fully with the initiative.
Community Concerns
Women leaders and other key stakeholders within the fisheries sector expressed support for the initiative but raised concerns about their livelihoods during the Closed Season. They requested the rehabilitation of the ministry’s outstations, provision of legal fishing gear, and the creation of an enabling environment to facilitate seamless fishing activities.
Assistant Director of Fisheries for Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance, Lahai Sesay, emphasized the importance of compliance during his engagement in Shenge. He assured the community of the ministry’s readiness to address their concerns to make the program successful.
A Step Towards Sustainability
The Closed Season initiative marks a significant milestone in Sierra Leone’s fisheries management efforts. By fostering collaboration with artisanal fisherfolk and other stakeholders, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is working to ensure the sustainable use of the nation’s marine resources for the benefit of present and future generations.
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