US$55 Million Fish Harbour Project Launched.

The long-awaited US$55 million Chinese-funded Fish Harbour Project was officially launched on November 13, 2025, at the Bintumani Conference Centre in Freetown. The event signals the start of work at the project site in the Black Johnson community, Western Area Rural District.

Organized by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in collaboration with the Chinese Embassy in Freetown, the ceremony drew a lineup of prominent figures, including the Vice Presidents of both the People’s Republic of China and Sierra Leone, government ministers, diplomats, and key stakeholders in the fisheries sector.

Dubbed the Julius Maada Bio Fishing Port, the strategic national investment is expected to generate more than US$59 million in annual revenue, create jobs across the fisheries value chain, support food security, promote the Feed Salone Agenda, and strengthen marine resource governance, among other benefits.

Speaking at the ceremony, Sierra Leone’s Vice President, Dr. Mohamed Juldeh Jalloh, thanked the Chinese Government for deepening bilateral ties by granting US$55 million for the construction of the modern fish harbour. He noted that the project will help Sierra Leone meet international obligations, including the establishment of a fishing port under the FAO Port State Measures Agreement.

Highlighting the economic benefits, Dr. Jalloh explained that the project will unlock wealth from the fisheries sector by providing a platform for improved monitoring and enforcement through a Quota Management System, and will facilitate other port-based services.

Describing the ceremony as a milestone in Sierra Leone’s history, the Vice President announced that the harbour has been named the Julius Maada Bio Industrial Fishing Port in recognition of President Bio’s exemplary leadership in transforming the fisheries sector. He thanked attendees for attending and urged greater private-sector investment in the industry.

Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Princess Dugba expressed gratitude to the Chinese Government for its support, noting that Sierra Leone has fulfilled its obligations prior to the project’s start. These include acquiring 252 acres of land for the harbour and compensating deserving landowners. In addition to the Breakwater System and Slipway, the project will provide a Fish Market, an Office for the Ministry, and spaces for private-sector investment.

The minister welcomed the arrival of Chinese engineers and contractors, who are working with local counterparts to ensure basic amenities such as energy and water are in place before construction begins. She emphasized the sector’s immense potential to support the Feed Salone Agenda and called for continued support.

The Vice President of China, Liu Guozhong, expressed pleasure at participating in the ceremony and extended warm congratulations to Sierra Leone. Reinforcing the sustained bilateral relationship, Mr. Zheng highlighted decades of cooperation in fisheries, agriculture, and education. He recalled that the project was personally approved by President Xi Jinping following the Beijing China–Africa Summit, which led to the signing of a framework economic partnership agreement on fisheries cooperation.

He assured that the fish harbour project would further strengthen mutual trust between the two nations and promote the development of Sierra Leone’s fisheries sector, pledging China’s continued contribution to Sierra Leone’s development.

Chaired by Brima Kebbie, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries, the event concluded with his thanks to the Government of China for sharing development opportunities with Sierra Leone. He described the ceremony as a historic moment and a symbol of the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Correspondent-Fatima Fofanah

 SLENA-MFMR