Development Strategy for Fisheries and Aquaculture in Sierra Leone.

This Development Strategy moves from the consideration that the country has a rich natural environment and abundant fish resources, but the fishery sector needs to be improved to fully contribute to the national economy development, the adequate food supply, the strengthening of employment and trade. The Strategy identifies the risks of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing (IUU), of fisheries overexploitation, of the high number of foreign industrial-scale vessels compared to local small-scale vessels. The Strategy defines its goal as the realisation of an economically efficient and environmentally sustainable fisheries that optimise wealth creation in the context of biological sustainability and social stability, and therefore, measures the achievement of its goal through the following four indicators: fish sector impact on the national gross domestic product; employment opportunities; fish export; domestic fish supply. The Strategy focuses on eight areas: 1) conservation and sustainable use of marine resources; 2) sustainable management of artisanal fisheries; 3) sustainable development of aquaculture; 4) competitive fish trade and marketing; 5) fisheries on the high sea; 6) regional and sub-regional cooperation; 7) development of human capital in fisheries and aquaculture; 8) cross-cutting issues.
The Strategy is structured in four sections: the introductory section 1 gives a brief sectoral synopsis of the fisheries of Sierra Leone and outlines the objectives of the Strategy. Section 2 specifies the approach and methodology used in developing the Strategy. Section 3 deals with the actual business of fisheries development Strategy and includes the purpose of the Strategy, goal and indicators. Section 4 defines the concluding remarks, emphasising the importance of gradual and measured process of implementing traditional knowledge and experience, working in collaboration with national, regional and international organisations. The Appendices concern: logical framework, activities and outputs for the development of the Strategy within the period 2015/2016-2030; a five year Plan (2016-2020), prepared in order to capitalise and address the opportunities and challenges of the sector; a model fishery system, with identification of priority interventions for fisheries. Other relevant elements of the Strategy include: enablement of fisheries stakeholders (local communities, private companies); trade and finance for fisheries development; protection of fisheries environment; food safety and quality control for the consumers; adoption of appropriate technology innovations in the various phases of aquaculture process.