Lack of adequate modern facilities that would add value to fish and fisheries products has been one of the challenges facing Sierra Leone’s fishing industry.
Attempts to address this situation by government and stakeholders in the sector over the years have not been successful, thereby preventing the much-needed resources from fully accessing local and international markets.
In a frantic effort to boost the sector, the leading fishing company in the country, Sierra Fishing Company has established an ultra-modern Fish Processing Plant with funds from partners at Kissy Dock yard, east of Freetown. The primary aim of the project is to add value to the country’s fisheries products for consumption and revenue generation.
Commissioning the facility at a well-attended and colorful ceremony, the President, Julius Maada Bio described fisheries as “a viable economic activity along coastal non coastal regions in the country that contributes twelve percent to the nation’s Gross Domestic Products (GDP) and employs over Five Hundred Thousand people in the country”.
In line with his government’s bid to achieve food security, he said fish remains the primary source of animal protein for most people while emphasizing the need to increase earnings from the industry.
President Bio intimated that the facility which has the ability to sort, blast freeze and package whole fish for local and international markets, had been certified, following environmental, health and safety assessments.
He appreciated the rigorous monitoring regime put in place by authorities, regarding value addition, saying that “we can also go beyond just scooping fish from the ocean, carrying and sorting, freezing and packaging”, adding that there is a whole ceremony that will add more value to the country’s fish products and create more job opportunities and subsequently reduce post-harvest loss.
The Managing Director Sierra Fishing Company, Bassem Mohamed, commended President for his exemplary leadership role in ensuring that the project is successfully completed.
Giving a brief historical sketch about the project, Mr. Mohamed said it started in 2009 but could not be completed as a result of what he referred to as “bad leadership” He informed his audience that the $15m project funded by partners, have the tendency to create 1.000 jobs for skilled and unskilled citizens, alleviate poverty and reduce unemployment in the country.
Mr. Bassem said for the past twenty five years, the fishing industry has been concentrating on off-shore processing with little socio-economic gains. With the establishment of the plant, he said the country will now benefit immensely from its operations and thanked all those who in diverse ways contributed to the project.
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Emma Kowa Jalloh expressed delight over the commissioning of a Fish Processing Plant with international standard and was optimistic that the project will work in line with President Bio’s avowed aspiration of creating wealth and promoting economic diversification.
The project, she said, will serve as an opportunity for the Sierra Leone Fishing Industry Association and Artisanal Fishermen Consortium to work together to restore sanity to the sector. As a result of the new development and other safety measures applied, Sierra Leone she said now stands to benefit more as its fish and fisheries products would be listed for export to international markets.
With the profound commitment to developing the sector, she intimated that her ministry has been able to address a number of challenges facing the sector, including Illegal and Unreported Fishing, lack of sustained fish stock assessment regime and Fish harbor
Statements of commendation and appreciation were also heard from the Minister of Agriculture, a representative from the Artisanal Fishermen Consortium and others at the ceremony which was chaired by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Elizabeth Ellie. The ceremony was also attended by a galaxy of state functionaries and key stakeholders in the fisheries industry and climaxed by cutting of tape by President Bio, inspection of the facility, amidst drumming and dancing.
From Left: Director of Fisheries (Mrs. Kadijatu Jalloh), Deputy Minister (Mr. Ibrahim Turay) Honorable Minister (Madam Emma Kowa Jalloh), and The Permanent Secretary (Mrs. Elizabeth Hawa Ellie)