The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Sierra Leone, Madam Princess Dugba, has disclosed that the ministry put strategies geared towards supporting President Julius Maada Bio’s Big Five Game Changers in job creation and food security.
The young and dynamic leader said her ministry's mandate is to manage the blue economy. According to the World Bank, the blue economy is the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improvement of livelihood, and creation of jobs while preserving the health of the ocean ecosystem.
"Because the ocean is blue, they refer to our area’s responsibility as the blue economy. And for it to continue with its colour, the creatures therein and everything. This is because when those creatures are extinct, the water(ocean) will lose its core value, and our department will lose jobs as much as we normally catch some of them for various uses. Therefore, we have to ensure it is healthy by taking adequate care of the marine resources in the water. That is our paramount aim", she informed.
The Minister furthered that as a Ministry, during 2023, their target was One Hundred and Ten Billion old Leones. Still, they strived to push their limit to increase it to One Hundred and Nineteen Billion old Leones as revenue generated for the country’s development.
"After collecting the said amount, the Ministry held an important meeting with all fishery industries in the country and informed them that we have decided to map out a way to continue increasing or doubling the money. I'm quite sure of implementing a venture that will lead to a successful outcome with God in the lead".
"The president of this country, in his second term manifesto campaign, highlighted "The Five Game Changers (Big Five), Feed Salon", as it is commonly called. The Feed ‘Salone’ is not only dependent on agricultural activities widely known for rice production or carbohydrates; there should be other food nutrients like protein, which is chiefly supplied by fish and is very cheap in our country. This is why we've decided that, for the president to succeed in achieving his dreams of feeding the Sierra Leonean populace, fish is an integral part of the plan and is very important. The Minister stated, “There is no way a Sierra Leonean can eat a delicious meal without fish because the meat is considered difficult to get."
I want to assure all Sierra Leoneans that my Ministry is striving hard with local and international partners to ensure that the blue economy is always safe and secure to accommodate more of its creatures like fish, crabs, lobsters, shrimp, and more. Thereby, they pledge that they shall do all it takes to increase the fishing productivity in the country.
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