By Amin Kef Sesay
The U.S. Embassy in Freetown spearheaded a crucial seminar addressing Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing from July 15-19, 2024, at the Sierra Leone Naval Base in Murray Town. The event brought together members of Sierra Leone’s Joint Maritime Committee, including personnel from the Sierra Leone Navy, Sierra Leone Police Marine Division, Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Office of National Security, Maritime Administration, and Ports and Harbor Authority.
The seminar, led by a delegation from the U.S. Coast Guard and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Office of Law Enforcement, focused on enhancing accountability measures against IUU fishing, which jeopardizes local livelihoods and inflicts severe environmental damage.
The event was inaugurated by Commodore Philip Jesbert Juana of the Sierra Leone Navy, who highlighted the urgent need for the Joint Maritime Committee to intensify efforts in apprehending illegal fishers, tracking transnational criminal networks and enforcing regulations to safeguard marine resources.
Throughout the week, discussions centered on collaborative strategies to protect Sierra Leone’s marine environment, emphasizing its crucial role in the local economy and ecosystem. The U.S. delegation underscored that Sierra Leone is not alone in this battle and a coalition of international partners is essential in countering criminal activities that exploit enforcement challenges.
It must be noted that the seminar follows last month’s maritime emergency course also led by the U.S. Embassy in partnership with the U.S. Coast Guard. The Embassy anticipates ongoing collaboration to address maritime security challenges.
