Conclusion of the second part
Despite the high potential of the fishery sector the
government neglected to take full advantage of it when the first PRSP were
drafted. With the growing interest of foreign investors, the Sierra Leone
government decided to take a necessary interest. As the national economy is
supported by 10fishery at the rate of 10%, overlooking the sector means
overlooking millions of Sierra Leoneans who depend on fishery and marine
resources for or income whether directly or indirectly. Like all other natural
resources fishery requires a sustainable management in order to take reap all
the benefits. Sustainable management is all the more crucial because
unsustainable practices lead to the overexploitation of fish stocks. A
depletion of fish stocks translates into less fish for coastal communities and
therefore a rise in the number of poor and food insecure population. The
depletion over fish stocks is all the more concerning because of the importance
of fisheries. Aware of the key role it plays, the government is relying more
and more on the fishing sector to alleviate the socio-economic problems it
faces.
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PARTIE III - The mechanisms of Ocean Grabbing
Though global «land rush» is known and highly
documented, what can be described as a global «ocean rush» is less
studied and denounced despite its equally harmful consequences on marine
natural resources and the people who exploit these resource for a living
(Barbesgaard 2017). As of 2014, it was estimated that a quarter of all marine
catches were from non-African vessels, further demonstrating the hearing of
ocean grabbing (FAO 2014). The governance of fisheries is crucial in combatting
ocean grabbing and its mechanisms. Unfortunately, Sierra Leone's actual
fisheries state of governance undermines the contribution of the sector to food
security. The primary threats undermining the contribution of fisheries to food
security is the ineffective management coupled with poor conservation of marine
habitats.
I. Ocean Grabbing: discourses and reality
Ocean grabbing is a recent phenomenon which in a similar way
to land grabbing attacks marine resources in order to transform them into a
financial manna by overlooking the regulations in place.
1. Ocean grabbing: definition and consequences
The term ocean grabbing has been used to describe
actions, policies or initiatives that deprives small-scale fishers of
resources, dispossess vulnerable populations of coastal lands, and/or undermine
historical access to areas of the sea (James Benett, Govan et Satterfield
2015). The expression is designed to highlight the mechanisms that critically
affect fisherfolks. Tenure systems in place for generations are overlooked and
the economic power is transferred to powerful actors who neglect small
stakeholders in making decisions that impact their livelihood (Franco, et al.
2014). Back in October 2012, Olivier De Schutter, the United Nations Special
rapporteur on the right to food, addressed the implication and risks that ocean
grabbing represent for food security. He appealed to world leaders and
international bodies to put an end to the overexploitation of fish stocks, and
urgently carry out actions to protect, sustain, and share the benefits of
fisheries. According to him, without quick and effective actions to halt
unsustainable practices, fishery will not be able to play its major role in
securing food for millions. He also stresses that because the agricultural
sector is continuously under pressure,
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populations tend to look to water bodies for their share of
protein products. And then, urges governments to change their policies in order
to practice fishery more sustainably, stressing on the importance of SSFs. The
major challenge for Mr. De Schutter is:
«To ensure coexistence between industrial fishing and
the rights of small-scale fishers and coastal communities - for whom even
occasional fishing can constitute an essential safety net in times of
crisis». (De Schutter 2012)
For stakeholders who are in favour of ocean grabbing, the
general discourses claim that food production needs to be expended to satisfy
the world's fast growing population but also that overexploitation of marine
resources has to stop and needs to be protected. While these arguments are
true, here they mask a hidden agenda. Indeed, they serve another purpose, one
that will benefit the private sectors. Governments are blamed for their
inability to manage fishery and marine resources, which pushes for the
implementation of policies and reforms established on the privatization of
fisheries (Franco, et al. 2014).
Ocean grabbing inevitably entails the destruction of marine
resources and jeopardizes the subsistence of SSFs. The consequences on the
socio-economic fabric of Sierra Leone are undeniable. SSF represent the
backbone of an entire sector that contributes to 10% of the economy in Sierra
Leone. The spreading of ocean grabbing can have highly detrimental effects on
the whole country, making millions of people even more vulnerable to food
insecurity and subsequently depriving them of their livelihood. Ocean grabbing
is most concerning in regards to traditional owners who constitute the most
vulnerable of the vulnerable communities (Franco, et al. 2014).
Ocean grabbing can be realized through different mechanisms,
and motivated by two main drivers which are global demand and development
pressure. As we mentioned earlier, the demand for fish and other sea food is on
the rise in Europe, Asia and North America which represent the biggest markets
for fish exports. This increased demand encouraged developed countries to
establish distant water fleets in West Africa following a massive fish stocks
depletion in their own coasts (Gagern et Van Den Bergh 2013). In response, West
African countries saw an opportunity to boost their economy and developed an
exports-oriented fishery sector (Pauly, Watson et Alder 2005). To evaluate if
an initiative constitutes or not ocean grabbing we must consider 3 criteria :
the negative effect produced; the lowered quality of life
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encompassing poverty, food security and livelihood; and the
condition of local governance (Franco, et al. 2014).
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