presented by: paul m. jaia-fisheries officer ministry of
TRANSCRIPT
PRESENTED BY:
PAUL M. JAIA -F ISHERIES OFFICER
MINISTRY OF F ISHERIES AND MARINE RESOURCES
SIERRA LEONE
Status of Aquaculture in sierra Leone
Country Report -2017
Njala University Hatchery-CORAF
Map of sierra Leone showing boundaries
Background of Sierra Leone
Position in West Africa-
Sierra Leone lies between latitudes 6⁰55’N and 10⁰ N and longitude 10⁰14’W and 13⁰17’. The total land area is 72,325 Km2.
Boundaries
The country is bounded on the north and north-east by the Republic of Guinea, on the south and south-east by the republic of Liberia and on the west by the Atlantic Ocean
population: 7.1 million (2015, statistics Sierra Leone)
Size: 72,325 Km2
capital city: Freetown
Relief and Drainage
RELIEF REGIONS:
Freetown Peninsula- A long range of mountains that boarders the western coast-(i.e. The capital Freetown.)
Coastal Plains: Low, level and sometimes swampy area close to the coast, includes creeks and estuaries.
Interior lowlands: Generally flat area with isolated mountains mostly inundated during the rainy season.
Makes up about ½ the country. Includes extensive wetlands such as the Boli lands in the Northern Province and the Batti lands in the South
Interior Plateau and Mountains: A mountainous region that runs from north west to south direction. It is the Source of all major rivers in sierra Leone. Highest peak is the Bintimani mountain (63,360 ft)
Sanya Scarp – An extension of the Futa Jalloh Plateau of Guinea
Relief Map of Sierra Leone
Wetlands- Flora and Fauna
AREA: Approximately 4,837.8 Km2(Bah (1994)
THE VEGETATION-
Freshwater swamps . Rapian forest
Mangroves: 200,000-300,000 ha (Aleem and Chaytor, 1980; COMARAF,
1990; Ndomahina, 2002)
FAUNA: Snails, Bivalves, Polychaetes, Protochordate and
Echinoderms).
16 families of freshwater fishes and as many 100 species. include:
Tilapia zillii, Tilapia monodi, Clarias lazera, Clarias laeviceps and Mormyrus
macrophalus.
Lakes: Bagrus bayad, Synodontis nigrita, Clarias platycephalus, etc.
Climate of Sierra Leone
CLIMATE:
-WET SEASON: May-October.
The Annual Rainfall:
- North-East -varies from about 1,800mm
- Freetown Peninsular: to 5000mm.
- DRY SEASON: November- April
Average Monthly Temperatures:
Around 26⁰C.
Relative Humidity:
Up to 92% in the wet and 45% inland in the dry season.
Coastline and Drainage
The Coastline: About 560 Km long.
Continental shelf: Covers an area (to 200m depth) of 30,000Km2.
The Drainage System :
Flow Direction- North-East to a South-western- (Atlantic drainage of West Africa.)
Major Rivers:
Great Scarcies, Little Scarcies, Rokel, Jong, Sewa, Moa and Mano.
Others :
Ribbi, Kukuli, Gbangbar and Wanje.
Estuaries:
The scarcies, Rokel, Yawri and Sherbro.
Timeline of Aquaculture activities in sierra Leone 1970-1991
1970s- Initial Tilapia seedlings obtained from Ivory Coast- GTZ
- Integrated Aquaculture- (Fish cum rice) – Bo-Pujehun project
- -Trials with Heterobranchus and Notopterus spp – Bo-Pujehun
project
1974- 1984: Oyster Culture -Rafts. (Canada and govt. sierra Leone).
1977- Finfish Culture – Government Makali fish farm - Oreochromis
niloticus
1982- Establishment of the BO Fish Farm –(GoSL)
1991- Rebel war- Cessation of field Aquaculture activities.
2000 to date
2000-2013
- Maintenance of Aquaculture Outstations -Bo and Makali. No production.
Development of a Department of Aquaculture-Njala University
Increased Private Sector investments drive.
Aquaculture ponds nationwide - FAO(TCP), CORAF, Farmers field school, etc.
WorldFish - Development of a new strain of Tilapia (Ivory Coast Tilapia X Burkina Faso Tilapia ) and Catfish
Fish Feed Production at Makali and Njala.
Legal Framework
MANDATE:
The Ministry of Fisheries is the legally mandated body for the management, development and conservation of Marine Resources.
STATUTORY INSTRUMENTS:
- The Fisheries Management and Development Act of 2004
- Fisheries Policy
- Fisheries Regulations
Other Legal Relevant Agencies and Policy Documents
OTHER RELEVANT BODIES
-Environmental Protection Agency
-National Protected Areas Agency
-The Local Governments Act 2004
-Ministry of Lands Country Planning and the Environment
RELATED GOVERNMENT STRATEGY PAPERS.
-The Agenda for Prosperity
-Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper ii
-Ministry of Fisheries Aquaculture Development Strategy Paper
AQUACULTURE HEALTH ASPECTS:
- Sierra Leone Competent Authority(food safety)
-PRECON
-Fish Quality Sector- (MFMR)
AQUACULTURE DEVELOPMENT STRATIGIES.
-Investigating and assessing the potentials of Inland Fisheries and
Aquaculture
- Initiating and establishing River Basin Management Systems.
- Promoting the production and marketing of capture and cultured Finfish and
Shellfish.
- Improving the national nutrition status through aquaculture and inland
fisheries
- Facilitating the promotion of integrated freshwater aquaculture and
Mariculture systems.
- Maintaining the Biodiversity of the Inland Fisheries Systems.
Don'ts -Introduction of exotic species in Aquaculture System
Undertaking any Aquaculture activity without clearance from the Ministry.
Unauthorized fish processing activity.
Utilization of unsuitable sites for reasons of environmental degradation.
Production statistics and marketing
Production trends: Not available
Production estimates: About 40 tonnes per annum (Agricultural Sector Master Plan Study, 1992).
Marketing: Marketed fresh (sold not by weight) to Fish Mammies in the village or along major roads prices are negotiable
Smoked fish- Sold in Periodic Markets or Urban towns.
TILAPIA BREEDING AT GOVERNMENT’S MAKALI FISH FARM- FEED THE FEATURE (WorldFish)
Marine Fishery
1974-1984 - Experiment with Mangrove Oyster (Crassostrea tulipa ) Canadian Government-Sierra Leone. (Rafts)
Short lived- High cost of implements,
- lack of available market
- Negative attitude to explore new fields
- redundancy of workers
Marketing opportunities
- Emerging international and regional cooperation.
- increasing consumer demand by resident Asians.
- new Government policy direction( food security and poverty reduction strategies. )
Challenges
Lack of specific Aquaculture Department on both Continental and Marine
Aquaculture ( food security and business.)
low incentives for research - fish feed and seedlings )
Few job opportunities for graduates in Aquaculture.
High investment cost at commercial scale and vulnerability to climate
change , disease outbreak and political instabilities.
Poor marketing strategies and limited markets.
Multi-sector use of culture environment.
Pollution of water bodies ( domestic and industrial waste )
Cost -benefit advantage (capture fishery over culture fishery)
Government’s policies put premium on industrial fishery.