Implementing the FAO Agreement on Port state measures and the Voluntary Guidelines for securing small scale fisheries.

27 June 2019, Freetown – The Government of Sierra Leone together with the Government of Japan and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) today held an inception workshop for a project to implement the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures and the Voluntary Guideline to Securing Small Scale Fisheries (SSF).

The event was held in the conference room of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources at Youyi Building in Freetown. The workshop presented the outlook of the project, “Support to implementation of the 2009 FAO Agreement on Port State Measures and the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries for sustainable fisheries and maritime security in the Gulf of Guinea” to key stakeholders, incorporate stakeholder input in the project and draw a work plan for the implementation of the project.

The project intends to enhance the sustainability of marine fisheries by preventing, deterring, and eliminating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing and to improve maritime security in Sierra Leone.

The FAO Representative in Sierra Leone Dr. Nyabenyi Tito Tipo noted that “the Implementation of Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small Scale Fisheries in the context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication, and introduction of improved fish processing technology will contribute to women and youth employment and improve the national food security.”

The Japanese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, H.E Tsutomu HIMENO stated that “Japan is providing this support on the basis of growing stronger relationship between us and Sierra Leone. The implementation of the PSMA will help Sierra Leone to protect its fisheries sector and export more fish to earn more foreign currencies that can make its economy stronger and stable. I strongly believe that this will continue through the TICAD7 which will be held at the end of this August in Yokohama, Japan.”

The Sierra Leone’s Minister of Fisheries and Marine resources, Honourable Emma Kowa-Jalloh stated that “The implementation of the Port State Measures aims to directly halt commerce on IUU products by preventing illegal fish entering International markets or Illegal operators using the different Ports services to trade in fish and fisheries Products.” She also noted that the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources puts premium in promoting Small Scale Fisheries.

Activities of the project

The project will, among other things, develop and adopt policies and laws consistent with the provisions of the Agreement on Port States Measures (PSMA). It will review and align national policies, legislation and Monitoring, control and surveillance systems and operations to the provisions of the PSMA and complementary international instruments and regional mechanisms.

Also, it will strengthen the capacity of public officials, especially national fisheries inspection authorities to effectively prosecute culprits engaged in IUU fishing and facilitate Value chain development and capacity development of youth and women Fishery Workers on fishery and fish processing using the improved cost effective technology.

The proposed project supports the implementation of the PSMA and complementary instruments including securing sustainable small-scale fisheries in the context of food security, poverty eradication and   decent employment to enhance maritime security in the Gulf of guinea.

The project will be implemented for twelve months with an overall goal of ensuring the cohesive implementation at national level of the provisions of the PSMA and complementary international instruments and regional mechanisms to combat IUU fishing improved.

Alignment with country priority and FAO’s strategic Framework

It is estimated that Sierra Leone losses USD 30 million annually to IUU fishing. The proposed interventions dominantly contribute to FAO Strategic Objective 2, which is, making agriculture, forestry and fisheries more productive and sustainable and also contributes to the other four strategic objectives to a certain degree.

FAO will directly execute the project in partnership with the Sierra Leone’s Ministry of Fisheries and marine Resources through a Project Task Force supported by other relevant FAO Technical Units at regional and sub-regional level.

Contact:

Keifa Jaward

Communications Officer, FAO Sierra Leone

[email protected]

+232 78 252906