$55 MILLION INDUSTRIAL FISHING HARBOUR UNDER CONSTRUCTION

By Desmond Isaac Macauley
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, has announced the commencement of construction of the $55 million Julius Maada Bio Industrial Fishing Harbour at Black Johnson, funded through a grant from the People’s Republic of China.
Speaking on the project, the Minister clarified that the grant will not be transferred to the Government as cash. Instead, the Chinese side will finance the project through a contractor engaged to undertake the construction.
The harbour will feature a jetty, waste management system, marine house and fish market, providing modern infrastructure to support industrial fishing, improve fisheries management and strengthen the countrys blue economy.
A temporary jetty is expected to be completed within two months to accommodate large fishing vessels while construction of the main harbour continues. The facility will also provide space for artisanal fishermen, as Government considers replacing wooden canoes with fibreglass boats to improve safety.
The project is expected to create employment and business opportunities in boat construction, repairs and technical services, while increasing fisheries revenue and strengthening Sierra Leone’s capacity to benefit from its marine resources.