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“The fish industry is in a chaotic state because we don’t adhere to the existing laws that regulate the industry. The situation is more chaotic and worse because government officials tasked with the responsibility of implementing the law, compromise and connive with players in the industry to do the wrong things. 

Haja Afsatu Kabba

  Therefore, we inherited a fishing industry wherein the revenue is limited because of our chaotic activities. Because of the chaotic needs of the industry, we do not have direct access to the EU market. But our fish products find it ways to the EU market through other illegal means,” President Koroma said while addressing members of the Sierra Leone Fishing Association at State House last Thursday, 4^th March, 2010.

 As a responsible government, President Korom said they  must  put a stop to this as according to him, he was not sure whether the fishing companies and the country were benefiting as they would if the country’s fish product have free access and pass through the correct process to access other countries.

President Koroma said when he took over governance he  met the fisheries and marine resources sector raising just 2.5 billion leones per annum. He went on to disclosed that his government set a target of 4 billion leones. He commended the current Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resouces, Haja Afsatu Olayinks Kabba whom he said has through her visionary leadership, now realized an excess of 11 billion leones this year.

“As a government, we believe that sanity must be ensured in the industry” President koroma maintained, adding, “we must ensure that the laws are respected. If there is a need for us to renew our existing laws we will renew them, but we need active implementation of the laws for everybody. We must encourage the fish industry to grow.”

President Koroma told fishing company owners that his government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources is presently constructing jetties in Goderich, Tombo, Shenge and Bonthe.

“When we complete this project, we are going to embark on other projects to enhance the provision of fish for domestic use” he said,

“As a government, we have authorized the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Haja Afsatu Kabba, to ensure that all fishing vessels are registered and inspected at the Government Wharf until further notice,” he said, adding that when they go through inspections, they must obtain all their licenses before they are qualified to operate.

It could be recalled that the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Afsatu Kabba has in recent times faced serious criticism over her determination to ensure that fishing regulations are met in a bid to not only increase the much needed revenue but for the country fish industry to meet EU market standards. Her quest to ensure positive dividend yielded, she is said to have stepped on the feet of greedy fishing company owners who want to continue operating unchecked.