The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) Haja Afsatu Kabba has told a gathering of international and local stakeholders that illegal fishing methods in Sierra Leone has led to the degradation of our water species and the environment.
She was speaking on Tuesday, at a well attended official launching of the pilot project for sustainable coastal zone management in Sierra Leone at the Miatta conference hall in Freetown.
The project is being implemented by the MFMR, Wetlands international, the Conservative Society Sierra Leone (CCSL) and the Regional Programme for the Conservation of Marine and Coastal Resources (PRCM) and other partners.
The Minister added that, the project aims to support Sierra Leone in its effort for sustainable coastal resources management biodiversity conservation through establishment of a Marine Protected Area (MPA), a tool for fisheries, coastal zone and marine resources management.
Haja Afsatu Kabba maintained that the marine environment can no longer stand on its own as a result of illegal fishing methods which have decreased the availability of our fish stock and other species.
In that light she said her ministry has taken the lead to ban the use of Mina nets, monofilaments nets and other bad fishing methods to protect our sea species and the environment.
The Minister called on line Ministries, Departments, Agencies, civil society and other local and international partners to help protect the marine environment.
In his keynote address, Minister of Presidential Affairs, Joesph Koroma, said that, coastal erosions caused by humans posed a threat to our sea species.
He added that, using bad fishing methods, pirate fishing, mangrove harvesting for fuel and wood and habitat destruction are major causes for the loss of our marine and coastal resources.
Habitat destruction, climate change, coastal erosion, flooding, over exploitation of our fish stock poses a serious threat to our marine biodiversity, he said.
Wetland Regional Director Ibrahima Thiam, stated that, Wetland, is committed to the strengthening and improvement of African resources management and capacity building through the identification and implementation of MPAs; the development of a reliable database on the environment and strengthening of partnership with the press for better communication.
He added that, the first four years of the project brought a variety of benefits to six member countries Cape Verde, Gambia, Guinea, Guinea Bissau, Mauritania, Senegal and Sierra Leone.
The Regional Director noted that MPAs in particular are key management tools within the PRCM and have been the focus of many conservation effort in each country.
He maintained that Sierra Leone does not yet have an officially designated MPA, although a number of sites have been identified as candidate for future protection and management.
Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Forestry and Food Security (MAFFS) Alie Mansaray , recommended that all sectoral policies concerning marine and coastal management be revised.
Updates of the current state of the pilot project in Sierra Leone was presented in a power point presentation by the Director of the Institute of Marine Biology and Oceanography (IMBO) Dr Ernest Ndomahina whilst Madam Jattu Jalloh chaired the launching ceremony.
Yawri Bay will be among some of the Priority areas for immediate intervention of the pilot project
By Abibatu Kamara
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