A member of the Aquaculture Working Group Committee of the New Partnership for Africa Development (NEPAD) and Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF), Prof. Kofi Abban, has urged the government to adopt high input intervention strategies and increase awareness on the business of aquaculture.
Speaking at a one-day stakeholders’ feedback meeting on Aquaculture Needs Assessment, Prof. Abban said they decided to organize the committee to ensure that policymakers help in promoting the aquaculture sector.
Another member of the committee, Prof. Kaunda, said their desire is to see countries develop policies that are result-based to ensure food security. He thanked stakeholders for their cooperation in making the process a success.
Fisheries and Marine Resources Minister, Dr. Soccoh Kabia in his remarks acknowledged the experts’ contributions in the development of aquaculture in Sierra Leone. While stressing the importance of aquaculture, the minister said the sector’s potential needs to be tapped and assured all that his ministry will do its utmost to ensure that fisheries industry effectively and efficiently undertake its activities.
Captured fisheries, according to the minister, is under threat, adding that they will embark on full scale commercialised aquaculture as an alternative source of livelihood. He commended the consultants and other stakeholders for their inputs and thanked them for conducting the needs assessment survey.
Deputy Minister of Fisheries, Feremusu Konteh, pointed out that the ministry will ensure that fish production is not limited to coastal regions and assured that non-coastal regions will also benefit. He also assured the experts of the ministry’s desire to fully utilise findings from the survey.
Director of Fisheries, Alpha Bangura, informed the gathering that marine fish products are decreasing globally and underscored the need to put premium on commercialised aquaculture, which he said, is not capital intensive. He encouraged Sierra Leoneans to invest in industrial fishing to help bolster the fisheries sector.
Coordinator of the West Africa Regional Fisheries Project, Dr. Sallieu Sankoh, disclosed that Sierra Leone ranks second among the top ten countries regarded suitable for aquaculture, noting that the survey has proved that availability of fish is seasonal.
Over fifty fisheries stakeholders drawn from various parts of the country attended the programme which was organized by the Partnership for African Fisheries in Sierra Leone.
2012 Concord Times