President Dr. Julius Maada Bio has officially launched the construction of Sierra Leone’s first industrial fishing port, describing the Black Johnson project as a transformative milestone for the country’s fisheries sector and a major step toward advancing the Blue Economy. The sod-turning ceremony took place on Thursday, April 23, 2026, at Black Johnson Village in the Western Area Rural District.
Delivering his keynote address, President Bio emphasized Sierra Leone’s identity as a maritime nation, noting that the country’s vast coastal resources have long remained underutilized due to inadequate infrastructure. He highlighted that Sierra Leone boasts over 570 kilometers of coastline and is endowed with some of the world’s richest marine ecosystems, yet lacks the systems needed to fully harness those assets for national development.
The President pointed out that although the country has an estimated sustainable fish stock of 450,000 metric tons annually, only a small portion is effectively utilized. He attributed that gap to longstanding weaknesses in harvesting, preservation, processing and regulatory frameworks within the fisheries sector.
“For decades, the absence of proper port infrastructure has allowed foreign fleets to extract value from our waters, while our local fishing communities continue to face significant post-harvest losses,” President Bio stated. “This is not a failure of effort, but a failure of infrastructure, investment and national prioritization. Today, we begin to correct it.”
Reflecting on his early experiences, the President recounted witnessing the struggles of local fishermen whose hard work often yielded limited economic returns due to systemic challenges. He noted that the new industrial fishing port is designed to address theoe constraints by providing a modern, integrated facility capable of supporting the full fisheries value chain.
According to President Bio, the port will function as a comprehensive hub for fisheries operations, offering services such as vessel berthing, unloading, fuel supply, maintenance, transshipment, fish handling, processing and distribution to both domestic and international markets. He added that the facility will adhere to global fisheries governance standards, including port state measures aimed at combating illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
“This is not just a local project; it is Sierra Leone taking its rightful place in the global ocean economy,” he affirmed.
President Bio also referenced his longstanding involvement in the development of Sierra Leone’s maritime framework, recalling his role in the ratification of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea in 1994 during his tenure as the country’s first Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources.
The President expressed gratitude to the Government and people of China for providing a $55 million grant to support the project, and extended special appreciation to Chinese President Xi Jinping for the partnership.
“This partnership is responsive, respectful and results-driven. On behalf of every Sierra Leonean who will benefit, I say thank you,” he said.
The Black Johnson Industrial Fishing Port is expected to significantly boost fisheries productivity, reduce post-harvest losses, generate employment opportunities, enhance export capacity and strengthen Sierra Leone’s position within the global fisheries value chain.
