Sierra Leone To Start Exporting Fish
Sierra Leone, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resource (MFMR), under Dr. Chernor A. Jalloh as Minister, will in the not too district future re-start the exportation of fish and other marine resources.
This was made known to a cross-section of the local press following the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources (MFMR) and the Ministry of Health and Sanitation (MOHS) in the office of Mrs. Abator Thomas, Minister of Health and Sanitation, Youyi Building in Freetown.
Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Dr. Chernor A. Jalloh, addressing the gathering including the press said one of their responsibilities was for them to ensure that, there is adequate fish supply to the local market before the exportation. He promised that was already in place.
Dr. Jalloh explained that his ministry has now completed studies and has met certain international standards which will help them to implement a very brilliant and beautiful policy with regards to industrial fishing. He said that if properly managed, the fishing industry alone can take care of Sierra Leone’s socio-economic problem because according to him there is abundant of fish in the territorial water of Sierra Leone.
Dr, Jalloh, however, noted that there are a lot of constraints the Government had been facing such as protective surveillance of our waters and the need to upgrade the fishing harbour and storage facilities. Explaining further, Dr. Chernor Jalloh informed that modalities have now be put in place to address some of these problems.
Speakeing also, the Head of Competent Authority and Food Unit, in the Environment Health Division, under the Ministry of Health and Sanitation, Gibrilla Bundu said they have carried out inspection in all registered boat, trawlers and companies and approved land sites at Tombo, Shenge and Goderich, adding that they are now expecting experts from the European Union (EU) to come and do auditing of the progress so far. In addition, Mr. Bundu said, they have also trained personnel at Njala University College (NUC), and at the Institute of Marine Biology in anticipation of the human resource needs of the country with respect to the exportation of fish.
