Sierra Leone News: 4 illegal Trawlers arrested

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International Non-Governmental Organization, Greenpeace Africa, has exposed serious problems in Sierra Leone’s fishing industry. Four illegal fishing cases were discovered during their recent four-day visit to Sierra Leone in which they did a joint surveillance mission with fishery authorities. “These fishing vessels are causing the Sierra Leone government to lose millions of dollars of revenue due to lack of surveillance and outdated legislations,” explained Greenpeace International, Project Leader West African Oceans, Pavel Klinckhamers. In his presentation on Thursday at the Greenpeace vessel, which was berthed at the Queen Elizabeth II Quay, Clinetown Freetown, Klinckhamer disclosed that a vessel, owned by an Italian company, was found with four kilograms of shark fins on board. Though not illegal under Sierra Leonean laws, this is a clear violation of European Union (EU) fishing rules. He advised the Sierra Leone government to pursue the case at European court. He noted that vessels like this have been fined up to € 250,000 (Euros). Futhermore, he revealed that two Chinese vessels and one Korean vessel have been arrested for infringements of Sierra Leone fishing legislations, including possessing or using illegal fishing nets on board, no visible marking and a lack of required paperwork, including log books and authorisations for unloading catches. Fishing authorities ordered the vessels to return to Freetown port for further investigation. In addition, more than 70 bags of shark carcasses were found on one of the Chinese vessels. Greenpeace and Sierra Leonean authorities inspected and boarded seven vessels during a four-day joint surveillance of Sierra Leonean seas. These included three Chinese vessels, two EU vessels, one Korean vessel, and one Senegalese vessel with Korean investment. More than half of the inspected vessels are suspected of illegal fishing activity. Ahmed Diame, Greenpeace Africa Oceans campaigner, said: “The findings from just four days of surveillance in Sierra Leone are further evidence that West Africa needs to strengthen its fisheries management. The region’s marine resources are being depleted at alarming rates, mainly due to too many boats competing for too few fish, and high rates of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. This ongoing plunder is a threat to millions of people in the region who depend on the oceans for their food.” Greenpeace Africa Executive Director, Njeri Kabeberi, explained that currently, 140 vessels are licenced to operate in Sierra Leonean waters, including tuna purse seiners, demersal and shrimp trawlers and shrimps and mid-water trawlers targeting pelagic fish like sardinella and mackerel, nearly half of all vessels in the country’s waters are owned by Chinese companies, and 40% by European Union companies, thus Greenpeace is recommending a reduction of the number of registered boats in order to foster proper surveillance. Deputy Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Charles Rogers, said they can’t reduce the number of boats “because we rely on fishing… You can’t keep today’s hunger for tomorrow’s food… We have to make do with what we have,” he said. However, he appealed for capacity building and complete details of the Greenpeace findings. Pan Wenjing, Greenpeace East Asia oceans campaigner, said, “From talking to Chinese captains during the inspections, it is evident that they have a very limited understanding of local fisheries legislation. Given that almost half of the foreign fishing vessels in Sierra Leone are Chinese, this is a major concern. These vessels need much stricter supervision. In addition, Chinese fishing companies need to supply training on local legislation to all overseas staff.” Nearly one million of Sierra Leone’s population of seven million depend on fish as a main source of income and diet. Overfishing and illegal fishing are a direct threats to their food security and livelihoods. Greenpeace is demanding stronger fisheries management to help put an end to overfishing and illegal fishing in West Africa. Governments of coastal states and fishing nations must take more responsibility and work together to manage both foreign and local fishing activities and ensure the environmentally sustainable and socially equitable distribution of these resources. By Ophaniel Gooding Monday April 24, 2017.

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