Sierra Leone News: Consumers Decry Rising Fish Prices
By Rima Turay
Fish prices in Sierra Leone have risen sharply by 80 to 90 percent in the last two months and there is no sign of price stability, as domestic demand is increasing at a pace that outstrips supply.
In Freetown, for instance, Red Snapper is selling at Le500,000 per cartoon, while Shine Nose is selling at Le300,000 per canton. In March, red snapper was sold at Le 280,000 per canton, while Shine Nose was sold at Le 150,000 per canton.
Sierra Leone has a fishery production of 150,000 metric tonnes per annum. The fisheries sector contribute about 12 percent of the country’s Gross Domestic Product, and fisheries provide an estimated 80 percent of the animal intake.
According to local fishermen, harsh weather is impacting negatively on their catch. The government imposed the moratorium on April on industrial boats to replenish stocks, but its impact has been limited.
An official of the an industrial fishing company who spoke on anonymity, attributed the low supply and high cost of fish to the one month ban on industrial boats and stiff government regulation which is scaring industrial fishing boats.
The prices of fish in the market are increasing by the day which made it difficult for ordinary Sierra Leoneans to purchase fish which is part of their daily diet.
About 50 percent of Sierra Leoneans who live below the poverty line rely on fish for their protein.
Fatmata Lamboi, a housewife, told Premier News that the cost of dry and raw fish have increased by almost 90 percent in the past five eight weeks. She said that a portion of fish that used to cost Le 10,000 is now sold at Le20, 000. She attributed the high cost to the short supply of fish in the market.
Lamboi said that the situation was becoming dire with each passing day. She said that fish is now very scarce. She said food prices are affecting household savings.
Margret Murray, a fishmonger, said that they price their fish based on canton price. She said that the prices of canton fish have increased by also 90 percent. We sell based on the market price,” he said.
Murray said that the ban on industrial fishing greatly affects the supply of fish in the market.
More than half of West Africa’s fisheries are dangerously depleted, according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization.
The mandates of the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine resources are to provide affordable animal protein (quality fish and fishery products) for the population and contribute significantly to the GDP.
Abdulrahman Rogers is the assistant communication officer of the Ministry of Fisheries. He said that his Ministry has not received information that the fish prices have increased. He said that they monitor the market and fish companies regularly to ensure that prices fish are affordable.
On regulation, he said, his ministry has not introduced any new regulation. “All the regulations that we are enforcing now are not new, they have been in inexistence before the coming of this government,” he said.
Rogers said the one month ban on industrial fishing is an achievement for the government because it allowed for replenishment of stocks.
