Conclusion of the first part
Despite, a devastating 10 years civil war Sierra Leone is an
example of post-conflict recovery. The economic growth resumed with the
exploitation of natural resources like iron ore, reducing poverty rates.
However, even with peace and democracy restored, the country seems to struggle
with keeping a sustained economic growth. The issues that government face are
mainly linked to poor governance and choices regarding the economic
development. The self-sufficiency ambition never became a reality and the
self-centred economic growth based on natural resources and agriculture failed.
Nonetheless, the country supported by regional efforts is slowly changing gears
and diverting its policies towards food security rather than self-sufficiency
while making progress towards improved governance. The concept was incorporated
in national and regional strategies and allowed for a more appropriate approach
to poverty reduction, and human development.
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PARTIE II - Fishery: a lead in improving food security
and alleviate
poverty
With globalization and an increased demand, fish became one
the most traded commodities in the last 20 years (FAO 2014). The growth was so
important that its value was estimated at about US$ 100 billion in 2008, making
a 50% push since 1998 (WorldFish Center 2011). The link between poverty and
food security has been largely proven and documented. Here, we try to
demonstrate how poverty and food security can be improved through fishery.
Based on this idea, it is surprising to witness how little fishery was
integrated into the PRSP's at first given its importance and then how the
consideration evolved to a more sustainable approach (FAO 2008).
I. Fishery in Sierra Leone: between potential and
contribution
«When the number of fishermen increases or decreases,
a domino effect occurs. Fish
processors and traders are obviously affected
but so are boat builders, fuel providers, wood
sellers and other less
financially rewarding, often temporary and unrecorded, jobs which
provide a
real safety net for the poor». (FAO 2006)
1. Fishery a profitable sector
The contribution of fishery to the economy is undeniable in
Sierra Leone but we must underline the many ways this sector contributes to the
economy. Evidently it contributes to the economy in more ways than one. Besides
providing the population with food, fishery also creates employment
opportunities, boosts the GDP with a 10% contribution and insures revenue for
the government in the form of fishing licences (FAO 2014). The fishery sector
in Sierra Leone is divided into three sub-sectors: artisanal fishery,
industrial fishery and finally inland and aquaculture.
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· Artisanal Fishing Activity:
characterized by small-scale fishing operates in estuaries and coastal
waters using mostly non-motorized boats. It is largely subsistence-oriented.
· Industrial Fishing Activity:
operates in the deep waters, outside the Inshore Exclusive Zone (IEZ)
and it is characterized by multinational fleet which include trawlers. It is
largely export-oriented.
· Inland Fishing and
Aquaculture: Inland fishery operates in rivers, lakes and
swamps. Aquaculture on the other hand, is mostly practiced in valley swamps and
wetlands and has great potential for development.
Artisanal fishery contributes significantly to the national
fish production while industrial and inland fishery have a more marginal
contribution (FAO 1986).
a. Fishery: high economic potential lacking the
infrastructure to thrive
Sierra Leone's abundant natural resources might suggest that
the country enjoys a thriving economy and society (Neiland, et al. 2016).
However, the development of the country since its independence proves quite the
opposite despite the continuous efforts of the government (UNEP 2010) (AFDB
2013). The country disposes of a large variety of fish both in marine and
inland environments, essentially exploited through marine fishing with a minor
inland structures (FAO 2004). Sierra Leone's fish stocks are highly valuable.
Their capitalised economic value was estimated at about US$ 735 million, and
could potentially increase their contribution to the GDP from the current 10%.
In 2008, the Government of Sierra Leone estimated the total annual production
at about 150 000 tonnes. Marine artisanal fishing as mentioned before
represents approximatively 80% of the total production, amounting to 120 000
tonnes which is valued at US$ 100 million every year (AFDB 2018). The marine
industrial fishing catches, relatively more profitable amounts for an estimated
24 000 tonnes valued at US$ 25 million every year. Both inland fisheries and
aquaculture activity and production are comparably limited. Fish stocks a
particularly valuable, with a capitalised economic value estimated at about US$
735 million, it could potentially increase its contribution to the GDP from the
current 10%. Each year, Sierra Leone exports US$ 2.5 million worth of fish and
another 2.5 million in fishing license, mostly to the UE and Asian firms. It
must be noted that these figures don't take into account the full potential of
the fishery sector as the secondary economic activities linked with fishery are
overlooked.
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Frozen fish and fish products intended for the domestic market
constitute a sizable part of the fishery sector. They are generally sold and
stored in Freetown, while the expensive fish brought ashore by industrial boats
is repackaged and exported to neighbouring countries and the EU. Frozen fish is
noticeably more expensive, and the operators in charge of cold storage have
full control over the price (WorldFish Center 2017). Unlike industrial and
semi-industrial boats, small artisanal boats mostly lack built-in cold storage
which forces them to be dependent on the prices set by such operators. A total
of 6 companies share the fish auction business in Freetown, amongst which the
Sierra Fishing Company that devotes its activity entirely to the domestic
market. Today the frozen fish and sea-food business is mostly in the hands of
eminent businessmen who control the prices, the supply, transport, sale and
storage of fish and shellfish on the Freetown market.
Despite fishery sector's economic potential major challenges
remain. Important proportion of fish and thus revenue is lost due to lack of
proper infrastructures like roads and refrigerated storage spaces and
knowledge. In 2005, the government estimated the loss at 15% and subsequently
launched a nation-wide training programme targeting small-scale artisanal
fisherfolks in order to educate them on the preferred handling and processing
technics as well as providing them with technical support. The government also
increased the number of refrigerated containers from 6 to 23 in 2007, allowing
for better preservation and sanitary conditions (GoSL 2008). Besides the
infrastructural issues, the country was subject to an export ban by the UE due
to poor sanitary conditions (EFJ 2009). In the first pillar of the A4P the
government expresses the wish to resume exports with EU, an important economic
partner with a large market for fish (GoSL 2013). The EU export ban led Sierra
Leonean fisherfolks to export their merchandise to neighbouring countries at a
lower price or forced them to export to EU using a third country also reducing
their margin. The ban also dissuaded a number of countries from purchasing
fishing licences from Sierra Leone, therefore depriving the country of
consequent revenue (GoSL, Agenda for Change 2008).
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