A combined team of personnel from the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Sierra Leone Navy, Sierra Leone Police and Standing Crew onboard Patrol boat, “Sorie Ibrahim Koroma” has arrested a Chinese fishing vessel, F/V HUAANG 17 for allegedly fishing within the country’s Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ).
According to the Head of Monitoring, Surveillance and Control Unit of the Ministry of Fisheries, Victor Hamusa Kargbo, it was observed that HUAANG 17 was on the 14th June 2016, fishing within the IEZ. He said after the vessel was arrested, it was escorted to port where post- investigations were conducted.
Mr. Kargbo further stated that it was also confirmed that during the post- investigations and through voluntary confessions by the captain, that indeed the vessel was fishing in prohibited area, contrary to Sec. 30 (1) of the Fisheries Management and Development Act 1994. In view of the evidence available, he stated that the ministry has imposed a fine of USD- 20,000 (Twenty Thousand United States Dollars) on owner(s)of the vessel in line with Sec. 30(6) of the Fisheries Management and Development Act which states that “No semi-industrial or industrial vessel shall fish inside the inshore Exclusive Zone which is reserved exclusively for artisanal and recreational fishing”.
Dilating on measures put in place to curb illegal fishing, Mr. Kargbo who is also Head of the Joint Maritime Committee said apart from placement of Observers onboard and preparation of Daily Catch Reports, they are also installing Vessel Monitoring Systems onboard fishing vessels to ascertain or verify positions of the vessels. He also disclosed that the ministry has started installing forty Transpondersa satellite based monitoring system, recently procured by the ministry and has improved on the internet facility at their communications centre through Fiber Optic communication means to enhance effective and efficient Monitoring Control and Surveillance System.
He added that with the help of the U.S. government, they have also operationalised the Automatic Information System (AIS) to boost their operations. He also disclosed plans to overhaul their radar system while noting government’s commitment to support the Joint Monitoring Committee and the government of Isle of Man’s financial contribution to the operations of the S.I. Koroma Patrol Vessel.
In an effort to address illegal fishing in the Artisanal Sector, the Mr. Kargbo said the Ministry had procured appropriate fishing gears which are now on sale at the various Fisheries Outstations in the country on cost recovery basis. He therefore urged fishers to buy the appropriate fishing gears as the ministry will take punitive measure against defaulters.
Thursday July 07, 2016
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