By George M.O. Williams
Sierra Leone: Artisanal fishermen and community leaders gathered at Capital River Wharf in Goderich to raise alarm over escalating clashes with industrial trawlers illegally operating within Sierra Leone’s Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ). The IEZ, reserved exclusively for artisanal and recreational fishing, is a critical marine area meant to protect local livelihoods and sustain fish breeding grounds.
The fishermen reported repeated incursions by industrial vessels over the past years, resulting in destroyed nets, damaged boats, and even loss of life. “Trawlers take all the good fish,” one fisherman lamented, pointing to declining catches and rising tensions along the coast.
Under Sierra Leone’s 2018 Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, any industrial vessel found operating within the IEZ faces fines starting at $1.5 million. Yet enforcement remains weak, and many violations go unpunished.
Mounting Grievances and Calls for Reform
National Master Fisherman Gbassay Kabia acknowledged the scale of the problem, noting that while Sierra Leone has 641 landing sites, most cases of trawler damage are never formally reported. In the few cases that do reach his office, compensation is often inadequate. He urged harbour masters to report incidents within three days to enable timely investigations and pledged to escalate the issue to the Ministry of Fisheries and Parliament.
Most the fishermen said when presented a claim of NLe 75,000 to the Ministry of Fisheries, they only received NLe 25,000.
Honourable Ibrahim Kabba, popularly known as “Small Borbor,” addressed the gathering, insisting that industrial trawlers must remain within the Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) and avoid the IEZ. “Artisanal fishing is not just a tradition; it is our livelihood and means of employment,” he said, encouraging fishermen to submit formal complaints to the Fisheries Committee in Parliament.
Harbour masters and community representatives from Aberdeen, Portee, Mama Beach, Moe Wharf, Mafenbeh, Rokupa, and others echoed the concerns. Foday Conteh, aka Papa, accused the Ministry of Fisheries of colluding with industrial operators to overlook violations.
Saidu Kabia of Aberdeen Wharf called for new bye-laws to ensure fair compensation for lost fishing chains and equipment.
Abubakarr Sesay from Portee Wharf highlighted the economic toll, noting that many boats remain idle due to destroyed nets and lack of restitution.
Ministry of Fisheries representative Moseray Kabba responded by stating that not all reported incidents meet the legal threshold for compensation under the Fisheries Act. He maintained that eligible cases are typically resolved among the fishermen themselves.
Background: Illegal Fishing in Sierra Leone
Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing has long plagued Sierra Leone’s coastal waters. Industrial trawlers, often foreign-owned, frequently violate IEZ boundaries, undermining artisanal fishing and depleting marine resources. These activities threaten food security, biodiversity, and the economic survival of thousands of coastal families.
Despite the legal framework provided by the 2018 Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, enforcement remains inconsistent. Weak surveillance, limited patrol capacity, and alleged corruption have allowed IUU fishing to persist. Sierra Leone’s IEZ is particularly vulnerable due to its rich fish stocks and proximity to shore, making it a prime target for illegal trawling.
International bodies such as the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) have urged Sierra Leone to strengthen monitoring, increase transparency in licensing, and invest in community-based enforcement mechanisms.
A Call for Action
The meeting concluded with a unified call for accountability, stronger enforcement of the Fisheries Act, and protection of artisanal fishing communities. As Sierra Leone grapples with the economic and environmental toll of illegal fishing, stakeholders say the time for decisive action is now — before the country’s coastal heritage and livelihoods are irreparably damaged.