German Ambassador Calls On Fisheries And Marine Resources Minister

The newly accredited German Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wolfgang Wiethoff has on Tuesday 23^rd October, 2015 met with the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Capt. Momodu Allieu Pat-Sowe to discuss a wide range of issues relating to the development of Sierra Leone’s Fisheries and Marine Resources. Capt. Pat-Sowe (L) in a warm handshake with Amb.Wiethoff(R)

Welcoming the German Ambassador to his Youyi Building Office in Freetown, the Minister of Fisheries Capt. Pat-Sowe congratulated the Ambassador on his new appointment and briefed him about his ministry’s current activities. He informed the ambassador that Sierra Leone is in dire need of a Modern Fisheries Harbour Complex that would accommodate on-shore fish-handling and processing, inspection, transshipment and dry docking facilities for the maintenance of Industrial Fishing Fleet.

He noted that Sierra Leone is currently not getting the actual benefits from the industry because of the lack of Fishing Harbour Complex. This, he said remains a recipe for illegal transshipment and poor value addition on the fisheries industry. He further informed the Ambassador that his ministry intends to develop the Aquaculture Sector to increase fish production in the hinterlands. He explained that the needed policy framework for the development of the Aquaculture sector has been put in place but there is now need to improve it, particularly the establishment of a local Fish- Feed Production Technology as part of the ministry’s High Input Interventionist Approach for Commercialized Aquaculture.

Capt. Pat-Sowe expressed the need to establish a Tool Bank for Small Scale Private Fish Farmers to implement Small Holders Commercialized Aquaculture Programme. This, he emphasised, will be in line with Low inputs and outputs approach for medium enterprises in the industry and appealed for funds to develop the sector. The Minster also disclosed plans to undertake a comprehensive Stock Assessment to evaluate the quantity of fish stocks and their distribution in the country’s waters and also appealed for funds in that regard. In an effort to meet European Union’s minimum requirements for the export of fish to E.U. markets, the Fisheries Minister said the country is improving her official control standards for fish and fisheries products.

Responding, the German Ambassador thanked Capt. Pat-Sowe for the briefings and expressed his country’s willingness to work with the government of Sierra Leone in promoting a number of areas, including the fisheries sector.

The German Ambassador maintained that he has started studying issues surrounding the Fisheries sector and once he abreast himself with the needs of Sierra Leone, he will come up with specific areas of support that can be provided to develop the sector.

Ambassador Wiethoff informed the minister of a pending Agricultural Conference in Germany at which issues relating to fisheries development will be discussed and encouraged staff of the ministry to ensure they attend the forum. He promised to collaborate with government to promote the existing bilateral relations between the two countries.

Present at the meeting were the Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Charles Rogers, Senior Permanent Secretary, K. O. Bah, Director of Fisheries, M. B. U. Cole and other management staff of the ministry.

By Max A Konneh, Press Officer, MFMR

Stay with Sierra Express Media, for your trusted place in news!