Sierra Leone fishermen blame Chinese trawlers for declining catches
Fishermen in Sierra Leone report a sharp decline in catches, accusing Chinese trawlers of illegal fishing within a protected exclusion zone, causing economic losses and threatening food security.
In the coastal waters of Sierra Leone's Sherbo Island, fishermen haul their nets ashore with great effort, but catches have fallen dramatically in recent years. Local residents blame large foreign fishing vessels, particularly from China.
Marie Pierre, a woman picking sardines from discarded jellyfish, says international trawlers are increasingly entering coastal waters illegally, despite an official seven-mile exclusion zone. Fisherman Musa Gassimo alleges that trawlers deliberately cut their nets at night, causing losses of up to $250 per net.
West Africa remains the global epicenter of illegal fishing. According to a 2024 global report, around 40% of the world's unlicensed catch originates from its waters, costing West African nations a combined $10 billion in lost revenue and risking food security for millions.
Thomas Turay, president of Sierra Leone's Fishermen's Union, says average catches have fallen by about 40% in recent years and blames illegal fishing. He claims foreign trawlers violate the seven-mile exclusion zone at night. Fishermen report damaged nets and boats.
Steve Trent, CEO of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), says the vast majority of vessels are Chinese. While South Korean, Taiwanese, and European ships have been seen in the past, the current fleet is overwhelmingly Chinese. Fishermen say complaints to the Fisheries Ministry are ignored, and Turay blames official corruption.
Sheku Sei, director at the Sierra Leone Ministry of Fisheries, denies the allegations, insisting that illegal fishing is decreasing. He points to tracking transponders on all international vessels and routine inspections. However, he cannot cite any penalty applied in the past decade.
The Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Sierra Leone did not respond to the BBC's request for comment, but the Chinese Foreign Ministry recently denied similar allegations of illegal fishing in Latin American waters. Trent criticizes China for not doing enough, saying it enables illegal fishing through subsidies and lack of oversight. He calls for better vessel tracking and international pressure, including consumer choices.
