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The following proposal for alternative options for a fishing harbour in Sierra Leone requested by The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon. Emma Kowa Jalloh has been sent to the following recipients;
Sierra Leone’s President, Julius Maada Bio
Sierra Leone’s First Lady, Her Excellency Fatima Maada Bio
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources Hon. Emma Kowa Jalloh
The Minister of Tourism and Cultural Affairs, Dr. Memunatu Pratt
The Minister of the Environment, Professor Foday Jaward
Alternative Options for a Fishing Harbour in Sierra Leone
We are not against the development of the fishing sector in Sierra Leone.
We welcome sensible and sustainable development of a fishing programme in the country.
We are Sierra Leoneans or resident in Sierra Leone, we are not outsiders. We are proud of Sierra Leone and want to see our country grow and prosper.
The reason we have started a campaign to save Black Johnson Beach is because building a Fishing Harbour there is not a feasible place for this development.
This area is an environmentally sensitive area. This fact has been testified by Dr Sama Banya, the famous former President of the Conservation Society of Sierra Leone. It contains a fish spawning area; it is on a migratory bird route and is home to pangolins and various turtle species that are listed as endangered species.
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It is a tourist beach which is also at the heart of the tourist beaches from Tokeh to Kent. A recent extensive survey found that “The Peninsular south of Freetown is the major tourism resource for Sierra Leone from south of Goderich to Kent these are the best beaches on the west African coast.”
All the village Headmen from Tokeh to Kent are fearful for their resorts if a commercial fishing harbour is put at Black Johnson.
As we all know tourism alongside fishing and agriculture are three main income development goals for GoSL. All have equal importance and one should not suffer as a result of the activity of another.
We welcome GoSL´s aim of building of a large, sustainable commercial Fishing Harbour in Sierra Leone but we urge GoSL to have the proposal transferred to a more suitable location. This would enhance job prospects; help boost food security and generate income for GoSL.
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Here are some better options:
1. The Fishing Harbour needs to be somewhere that can accommodate large, deep draft vessels closer and more accessible to the tuna and other major fishing grounds that the larger fishing boats want to catch.
2. The location must be environmentally preferable and removed from the tourist beaches.
3. This should be located in an area in need of development and jobs.
4. An Alternative Juxtaposed Matrix Planner (AJMP) should be completed after detailed area surveys have been completed so that the Pros and Cons of various sites can be objectively compared and the best site “fit for purpose” can be chosen. (This information may already be available for some possible sites).
5. There should be an investigation of the feasibility of having the latest and most modern sustainable nutrition technologies plants in Sierra Leone. These are compliant with The United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (UN SDGs). They help chart a course towards that future and could prove to have great export potential as well as significant domestic benefits as has been proven in Asia. This could bring great kudos to GoSL. See links below for some examples.
6. One or more of these plants could be located on or nearby the new Fishing Harbour providing an integrated and sustainable growth and development project.
7. Some possible locations for the new Fishing Harbour have been identified. One of them is Tombo. The advantages of Tombo are that:
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1 - It is currently the largest fishing port in Sierra Leone
2 - It has the backing of the people of Tombo and the Tony Blair Institute. See link below for film
3 - It is closer to the deep-water sites required
4 - It is not an environmentally sensitive area
5 - It is round the headland from the famous tourist beaches
Other options have been mentioned as being suitable like Bonthe, Murray Town and Sulima
There is a map circulating showing that an earlier survey had concluded in relation to Black Johnson:
“The land to the south known as Black Johnson was ruled out as there is a wetland behind the beach which requires protection under environmental regulations and the depth of sea would require very high-cost breakwater. In addition, the site would interrupt future tourism development.”
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Please be assured that we are willing to assist GoSL in bringing sustainable development to Sierra Leone. We support the equal development goals of tourism, fishing and agriculture, outlined in the President's Address to the Nation on Tuesday 18th May 2021.
We commend his personal commitment to addressing environmental issues as being critical for sustainable development. We applaud his stated undertaking to promote sustainable environmental protection.
We urge GoSL in view of these pledges to look towards more suitable and sustainable sites for developing a modern fishing harbour for the country. We will support the initiative whole heartedly and help in any way we can to bring it to fruition.
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Links
Insects for food and feed (fao.org)
Sustainability | Nutrition Technologies | Black Soldier Fly Asia (nutrition-technologies.com)