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Sierra Leone: Fishing

Volume 703: debated on Tuesday 22 July 2008

asked Her Majesty's Government:

(a) what progress they have made in helping fishermen in Sierra Leone eradicate illegal fishing; (b) whether a tracing scheme has been set up to track fish being exported to the European Union; (c) how much of the United Kingdom’s £15 million funding scheme announced in April 2007 has been released; and (d) when all of the scheme’s funding will have been released. [HL3589]

DfID currently provides financial support for the operations of the joint maritime authority, which polices the waters off Sierra Leone, and the British military forces in IMATT—the International Military Assistance Training Team—continue to provide capacity development through training. This national institution is at the frontline of tackling illegal fishing in Sierra Leone.

The Government of Sierra Leone will set out their priorities in a forthcoming poverty reduction strategy paper (first draft expected July 2008). Depending on the weight given to the fisheries sector, DfID may engage the Government in further support. The fisheries programme is still subject to approval and thus no funding has yet been disbursed.

On product tracking, the Government, through DfID and Defra, are working closely with major UK and European processors and retailers in the development of traceability systems for fish products entering European Union markets. We recognise that the ability to trace products from hook to fork is an effective means of ensuring fish are sourced legally and sustainably, although consideration needs to be given to ensuring that any new measures do not act unintentionally as barriers to legitimate trade for developing countries.