Fisheries Policy, Planning, Research and Statistics Unit

Mr. Victor A. Kargbo - Head of Unit

STATISTICS, RESEARCH AND POLICY UNIT

KEY FUNCTIONS

The Statistics, Research and Policy Unit is responsible for the following key functions:

1. Supervision and Management of fisheries Statistical Systems, including access

Control to registry, fish catch and effort databases and production of fisheries bulletins and fish stock status reports

2.  Registration of artisanal fishing vessels, the collection, processing and analysis of artisanal and industrial fishery catch and effort statistics, biological and socio-economic indicators for fisheries management

3. Fisheries research and systems development adapted to new fisheries regulations, including the implementation of fishing vessel inspection and registry systems; transshipment, local discharge   and license specifications and standards;

4.  Pre-licensing inspections, processing of fishing vessel license applications and calculation of license fees for issuance of fishing vessel license

5.  Production of updated fishing license lists, weekly and daily catch summaries and calculation of landing obligations for industrial fishing vessels

6. Supervision of Fisheries Observer Programme including the production and Management of fishery observer scientific data collection systems such as Observer logbooks, for daily catch recordings; supervision of the radio room and collation and checking of daily Observer radio catch reports

7.  Production of daily and weekly local fish catch and landing summary records,  calculation of fish landing obligations by fishing vessels as a pre-requisite for issuance of fishing vessel licenses

8. The production of fishery statistical bulletins, carryout fishery, marine resources and aquaculture research, including fishery surveys, Quota/TAC studies and other fish stock assessment work.

9. Identification of training needs development of training manuals and training of fisheries observers, enumerators and local   councils

10.  Collaboration with the MCS/JMC and Fish Quality Unit for the administration of fishery Observer and vessel monitoring Systems (VMS), including the deployment of fisheries observers and enumerators for the collection of scientific fishery information, monitoring of licensed fishing vessels via the VMS, HF and VHF Radio and AIS communication systems.

11.  The development of scientific data collection systems and Ports State Measure Implementation such as pre-licensing  inspection forms, fishery observer logbooks, transshipment and local discharge forms, development and implementation of regional and international fishery data management systems, including regional fishery management organization reporting requirements such as International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tuna (ICCAT) and FAO statistical data reporting requirements.

12.  The development of fisheries policies, legal framework, strategic and management planning, including ecosystem approach to fisheries, the introduction of fishing rights and the provision of fisheries management advice.

13.  Elaboration of important elements of fishery access agreements and the analysis of socio-economic data to guide fisheries and aquaculture management.

14. Collaborate with other MDAs in fisheries, marine resources and aquaculture related research

15. Participation in national regional and international conferences on fisheries statistics, marine resources research and policy

16. Coordinate the development of fisheries projects including identification of donors

17. Supervis

16. Other fisheries management duties assigned by the Director of Fisheries

STATISTICS, RESEAARCH AND POLICY UNIT

ACTIVITY PLAN AND STATUS FOR 2015

OUTPUT AREA PLANNED ACTIVITIES PROGRESS INDICATORS CHALLENGES
Supervision and Management of  Fisheries Statistical Systems Supervise data clerks for production of updated fishery statistics Supervision of data clerks ongoing for fishery statistics data processing. Ad Hoc staffing arrangement instituted to improve data processing Data processing still lag behind due to limited financial support to hire additional data clerks
Institute  Access control systems to catch registry and databases for fishery statistics information sharing Access control systems in place. Fishery Statistics data sharing with MDAs is based on approval by Director of Fisheries Computers and accessories need upgrade.
Production of fish stock status reports and fishery bulletin Draft Fish stock status report for Croakers produced, draft fishery bulletin-fisheries of Sierra Leone prepared No funding to conduct fisheries surveys and collect artisanal fishery catch and effort data.
Enhancement of International and Regional Fisheries Management  Membership and Reporting Finalize and implement Tuna Fishing MOU, implement FAO and ICCAT Reporting requirement. Attend International meetings Tuna Fishing MOU finalized and implementation ongoing. Processing of data Forms ongoing for data reporting to FAO and ICCAT Membership fees to ICCAT not yet paid. This hampers full participation and benefit
Fisheries Research and Systems Development Develop transshipment and Local Discharge inspection forms and standards, monitor and supervise   transshipments, fish discharges and exports Transshipment and local fish discharge inspection forms developed. Monitoring and supervision of transshipments, local fish discharges ongoing No funding for procurement of speed boats and  limited fuel for monitoring of activities
Update fishing vessel license Specifications and Standards,  Conduct Pre-licensing inspection of industrial and semi-industrial fishing vessels and calculate license fees Fishing vessel license specifications and standards updated to include information on length overall of vessels. Pre-licensing inspection ongoing for industrial and semi-industrial vessels No Speed boats and there is limited fuel for monitoring of activity
Collection and Analysis of Artisanal Fishery Data Collection, processing and analysis of artisanal fishery catch and effort data Request for funds submitted to MOFED. Awaiting Disbursement of funds. Data collection not yet commenced Limited funding and delays in disbursement of funds
Production of License Lists and Daily Catch Summaries Produce updated license lists. Summarize daily radio catch reports, produce weekly catch summaries and estimate landing obligation for vessels Updated license lists produced weekly, Daily Radio catch summaries and weekly local landings and export data produced. Landing Obligations for vessels calculated as pre-requisite for issuance of licenses Faulty  MFMR  HF Radio Communication Antenna prevents reporting by all vessels
Supervision of Fisheries Observer Programme and Monitoring of Fishing Vessels Via VMS Collaborate with MCS/Fish Quality Unit for the Management of fishery observer scientific data collection systems: logbooks and daily catch recordings Observer logbooks administered in collaboration with MCS unit, Daily Catch recordings verified using daily radio reports Faulty  MFMR  HF Radio Communication Antenna prevents radio reporting for all vessels
Supervision of the radio room  and collation and checking of daily Observer radio catch reports Radio room supervised and daily catch reports collated for calculation of landing obligations. Request made for repairs of HF radio antenna Faulty MFMR HF Radio      communication Antenna prevents radio reporting for all vessels. No funding available for repairs of  HF radio antenna
Production of Fishery Statistical Bulletins, Fisheries and Aquaculture Research  and Fish Stock Assessment Produce Fisheries of Sierra Leone Bulletin (Fourth Edition). Conduct research on Sea Cucumber Exploitation, Marketing and Socio-economics Fisheries of Sierra Leone bulletin under development. Framework for Sea Cucumber Studies Developed. Data analysis for fish stock assessment for croakers ongoing No funding to carryout  fisheries surveys
Undertake Diagnostics studies for development of shrimps and demersal fisheries management plan Data analysis ongoing for diagnostics studies on Croakers for development of  demersal fishery management plan Funding not yet obtained from MOFED for 2014 and 2015 FY
Training of Fisheries Observers, Enumerators and Local Councils Identify training needs; develop training manuals for the training of fisheries observers, enumerators and local councils. Funds request submitted to MOFED for refresher training and deployment of Enumerators Training needs identified for fishery observers and enumerators. Draft Fishery Observer Training Manual Produced. Awaiting funds from MOFED for  refresher training and deployment of Enumerators Funding not yet obtained from MOFED for 2014 and 2015 FY
Fisheries Policy and Legal Framework development and Strategic management Planning Implement Fisheries Strategy for Sierra Leone-Fisheries Wealth for National Prosperity: Conduct Trainings and Sensitization on Draft Five Year Plan and Fisheries Bill, participate on Finalization of Fisheries  Bill and Strategy Funds request submitted to MOFED for  stakeholder meetings and trainings on fisheries Bill and fisheries development Strategy-Fisheries Wealth for national Prosperity Awaiting Funds from MOFED to conduct Stakeholders training and sensitization
Collaboration with other MDAs in Fisheries, Marine Resources and Aquaculture related research Collaborate with Environment Protection Agency to Conduct Research on Commercial Exploitation of Sea Cucumber Stakeholders consultative meeting and research planning meeting held at EPA-SL on the commercial exploitation of Sea Cucumber Limited information on sea cumber. Limited funding for stock assessment
Development of Fisheries Projects and Identification of Donors Work with other Units to develop various fisheries projects and identify possible donors Draft fisheries projects developed on Fishery Stock Assessment, Fish Cold Chain and Aquaculture Development Projects

STAFF STATUS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

NAME OF STAFF DESIGNATION RESPONSIBILITIES

(TERMS OF REFERENCE)

Sheku  Sei Ag. Assistant Director of Fisheries/Head of  Statistics, Research and Policy Unit Produce Quarterly Report on all Activities of the Unit to the Director of Fisheries through the Deputy Director. Overall Supervision of  all Staff and activities of the Statistics, Research and Policy Unit, including:

  • Supervision of  Radio Room and the collation of daily catch records and   landing obligations for fishing vessels
  • Supervision of transshipment and local fish discharges and  edit field reports
  • Training of fisheries officers, observers and enumerators
  • Update fishing vessel license lists and produce weekly fish discharges and status of landing obligations
  • Analyze fishery data and produce fishery bulletins and  stock status reports
  • Develop and update standards, forms and specifications for fishing vessel licenses, pre-licensing inspections, transshipments and local fish discharges
  • Act as Head Scientist to  ICCAT and supervise ICCAT data reporting systems and Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries management. Lead ICCAT data Reporting
  •  Coordinate access to fisheries statistics, databases and registry of licensed fishing vessels.
  • Coordinate fishery data collection, processing and analysis, fishery stock assessment and fishing vessel licensing systems.
  • Collaborate with MCS unit to implement Ports State measure Agreement.
  • Develop and update Standards and Specifications for fishing vessel licenses
  • Provide technical backstopping on fisheries policy and legal framework implementation
  • Attend and present technical papers on fisheries statistics and policy at regional and international conferences
  • Collaborate with MCS Unit for  fishery Observer Administration
  • Perform other duties assigned by the Director of Fisheries
Josephus  Mamie Ag. Senior Fisheries Officer
  • Supervise Fishery Statistics Data Processing Staff to ensure effective data processing
  • Supervise  transshipment and local fish discharges and Edit field reports
  • Assist in the Analysis of fisheries  data, the production of fisheries bulletins and fisheries status reports
  • Training of fisheries officers, observers and enumerators
  • Assist in the implementation of  Ports State Measure Agreement
  • Act as Fisheries Biologist to ICCAT
  • Act as Focal Point for FAO Nominal Data Reporting Systems
  • Assist in the Control of access to fishery statistics databases
  • Assist in the development, update and implementation of fisheries policy and legal framework
  • Submit Activity Report to Director through  Deputy Director, and Through Head of Statistics, Res.& Policy Unit
  • Perform other duties assigned by the Director of Fisheries
Mamoud Mansaray Fisheries Officer
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Ivory Mae Coker
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Khalil bangura
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Philip Cole
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
James Samuels
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Maligie mansaray
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
    • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Victor Karmoh
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Mohamed A. Saccoh
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Mohamed King
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements
Alhaji Conteh
  • Monitor Transshipment and Local Fish Discharges
  • Process daily fish catch records from radio room and compare with observer logbooks
  • Assist in the processing of  ICCAT data for reporting requirements

Sheku Sei

Ag. Asst. Director of Fisheries

O/C Statistics, Research and Policy Unit