By Kemo Cham
Sierra Leone has indefinitely banned the export of fish to forestall imminent shortage of supply to the local markets.
The Ministry of Fisheries says the move has become necessary to protect vulnerable and poor Sierra Leoneans who depend on fish for their primary source of protein.
Charles Rogers, Deputy Minister of Fisheries, told journalists that the rainy season and the mountains of seaweed that have invaded the country’s beaches had made it hard for artisanal fishermen to fish.
This time of the year normally witnesses a shortage of fish in the market due to these factors. And prior to the announcement of the ban people were already complaining about the shortage of the commodity.
What little stock is available has suddenly become expensive.
Fish is supplied in the country by artisanal fishermen who fish along the coast and foreign industrial trawlers.
The smaller fishermen supply the bulk of the fish that is locally consumed while the foreign trawlers service overseas.
The effect of the seaweeds, coupled with the constant heavy wind amidst extended rains means the small boats are restricted at sea. This, argues Rogers, requires the industrial trawlers to market their catches locally, instead of exporting them.
“The fish is produced in our waters and the people of Sierra Leone should have the first option,” he says.
Anyone who violates the order faces prosecution, he adds.
This development comes amidst growing public mistrust for chicken following the discovery of tonnes of rotten chicken in the market.
Last week three more containers of the spoiled chicken were destroyed under the watch of armed security at the Bomeh dumpsite.
(C) Politico 2016
