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Study tour of Icelandic fisheries for Sierra Leonean high-level delegation

28 September 2022
The delegation visiting Þorbjörn in Grindavík
The delegation visiting Þorbjörn in Grindavík

Last week GRÓ-Fisheries Training Programme coordinated a study tour of Icelandic fisheries for a Sierra Leonean high-level delegation.

The mission included H.E. Minister of Fisheries Ms. Emma Josephine Kowa.

Also in it were Ms. Elizabeth Hawa Ellie, Permanent Secretary, Ms. Kadijatu Jalloh, Director of Fisheries, Mr. Salieu Kabba Sankoh, Project Coordinator, Mr. Sheku Sei, Head of Competent Authority and Mr. lvorymae Coker Fisheries Specialist.

Interestingly, two of the guests are former fellows of GRÓ-FTP, Ms. Kadijatu Jalloh who graduated from the Fisheries Policy and Management line of specialisation in 2009, and Mr. lvorymae Coker who graduated from the Stock Assessment line in 2018.

The guests participated in a five-day study tour of Icelandic fisheries, managed by GRÓ-FTP, in cooperation with the Marine and Freshwater Institute, the Directorate of Fisheries, Matís and the Icelandic Ministry for Foreign Affair (MFA).

Fisheries are very important to Sierra Leone, contributing substantially to the countries’ food security, employment and export. However, its stocks have come under increasing fishing pressure and post-harvest loss of catch posits a formidable challenge.

While GRÓ-FTP has for more than a decade worked with the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources in Sierra Leone to strengthen its institutional capacity, MFA has in recent years complemented those efforts with a range of different types of support.

In fact, the aim of the study tour last week was to offer the guests a comprehensive overview of what Iceland can offer, both over the short term and the long term, as a support for the sustainable development of fisheries in their country.

To this end, workshops with participation from fisheries experts were held and visits to companies and institutions in the sector organised.

The Sierra Leonean delegation expressed a keen interest in cooperation in the fields of stock assessment, fisheries management, value addition, capacity building, innovation and vocational training amongst others.

Day 1: Meetings with the MFRI and the Directorate of Fisheries
Day 1: Visit to the Coast Guard
Day 2: On board a freezing vessel
Day 2: On board a freezing vessel II
Day 2: Visit to Matis Aquatic Research Station
Day 2: Meetings with Matis and GRÓ-FTP
Day 2: Meetings with Matis and GRÓ-FTP II
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, a drone demonstration
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to Veiðafæraþjónustan (a net loft)
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to Veiðafæraþjónustan (a net loft) II
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to Þorbjörn (a fish processing factory)
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to Þorbjörn (a fish processing factory) II
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to Staður (aquaculture research centre)
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to Staður (aquaculture research centre) II
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to a Haustaak (a fish drying factory)
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, visit to a Haustaak (a fish drying factory) II
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, history and nature
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, history and nature II
Day 3: Reykjanes excursion, history and nature III
Day 4: At the Iceland Fishing Expo, well received by the Icelandic Collage of Fisheries
Day4: A wrap up session