May 14, 2021
By: Aruna Kamara (Bo)
Traders dealing in Fish at the Bo Central Market (BCM) have raised grave concern over the increment on the cost of a bag of fish.
They however lauded the step taken by the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to suspend the exportation of fish to other countries.
Speaking to this medium, Mummy Kadiatu Bah said that the exportation of fish to other countries is also responsible for the increment on its cost, adding that “the fish cannot serve well the people in the country and yet they are taken out of this country, which disturbs us,” a Fish monger said.
Madam Bah said that the fish are small in size and suggest that it will be good if they can be allowed to develop. She expressed optimism that the Ministry of Fisheries will enforce the suspension of the exportation of fish, so that citizens can eat what comes out of its waters.
Jatu Brima another fish seller said that the government should ensure that the price of fish is regulated to the satisfaction of the customers.
She claimed that a bag of fish has increased from two hundred thousand Leones to three hundred thousand Leones, adding that this is making life worse for them as much they cannot make any profit as expected.
It could be recalled that, at the Ministry of Information and Communications Press Conference last week, the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources says export of fish is suspended with immediate effect during the close season in this May 2021. There was no close season in 2020 due to Covid-19. According to the Ministry, Artisanal fishing boats are not allowed in the Marine Protected Area (MPA) and Dynamite blasting remains banned. The fishing sector contributes 12% to GDP of Sierra Leone.
However, Civil Society activists say they will monitor the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources to ensure that foreign fishing boats do not invade the waters of Sierra Leone.