SIERRA LEONE HOSTED THE 20TH SESSION OF THE COMMITTEE OF COORDINATION AND CONFERNCE OF MINISTERS OF FISHERIES OF THE SUB-REGIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSION (SRFC) AT THE BINTUMANI CONFERENCE CENTRE, ABERDEEN IN FREETOWN FROM THE 24TH –27TH JULY, 2018.
DISCUSSIONS AT THE CONFENRENCE WHICH WAS ATTENDED BY THE SEVEN MEMBER STATES OF THE COMMISSION, CAPE VERDE, THE GAMBIA, GUINEA, GUINEA BISAU, MAURITANIA, SENEGAL AND HOST COUNTRY, SIERRA LEONE WERE GEARED TOWARDS THE VALIDATION OF THE SUB-REGIONAL REGISTER FOR FISHING VESSELS AS WELL AS FISHERIES OBSERVERS PROGRAMME WITH REGIONAL COMPETENCE .
MOREOVER, THE MEETING CONFIRMED THE FIVE YEARS STRATEGIC PLAN – (2018-2023) OF THE SUB-REGIONAL BUDGET APPROVAL, TRANSFER OF THE CHAIRMAN OF THE CONFERENCE OF MINISTERS AND INSERTION OF A NEW PERMANENENT SECRETARY.
THE SUB-REGIONAL FISHERIES COMMISSION IS AN INETER GOVERNMENTAAL FISHERIES COOPERATION ORGANISATION ESTABLISHED BY THE CONVENTION OF 29 MARCH AND AMMENDED ON 14TH JULY, 1993 IN PRAA, CAPE VERDE.
ITS HEADQUARTERS ARE LOCATED IN DAKARR, SENEGAL. ITS MAIN AIM IS TO ENSURE HARMONISATION OF THE NATIONAL POLICIES OF MEMBER STATES ON THE PRESERVATION, CONSERVATION AND EXPLOITATION OF FISHERIES AND STRENGTHEN COOPERATION FOR THE WELLBEING OF THE POPULATION, PARICULARLY IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:
1. FOSTERING SUB-REGIONAL COOPERATION FOR MONITORING, CONTROL AND SURVEILLANCE OF FISHERIES ZONES, INCLUDING PROVIDING INASTITUTIONAL, LEGAL AND OPERATIONAL SUPPORT TO ELIMINATE ILLEGAL, UNREPORTEDAND UNREGULATED FISHING
2. STRENGTHENING HUMAN CAPACITIES TO UNDERTAKE FISHERIES RESEARCH ACTIVITIES.
3. REINFORCING THE SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNICAL INFORMATION SYSYTEM
4. ENSURING ADOPTION OF JOINT STRATEGIES BY INTERNATIONAL BODIES