Government minister Phil Gawne MHK has been to Kenya to tell a conference about the Isle of Man’s links with Sierra Leone.
He talked about the Isle of Man’s role in rescuing poor coastal communities from illegal fishing by foreign trawlers.
The provision of a fisheries protection vessel and continuing advice to Sierra Leone, as well as the installation of a satellite monitoring system for the fishing fleet there, has contributed to an estimated 35 per cent increase in local landings, netting an additional $16 million in earnings for the country’s fishermen.
The conference was hosted by Interpol and the United Nations Environment Programme.
The gathering of government and non-government organisation representatives from around the world listened to an address from Mr Gawne, the island’s Minister for Environment, Food and Agriculture and chairman of the government’s International Development Committee.
Mr Gawne told the International Environmental Compliance and Enforcement Conference in Nairobi: ‘The Isle of Man and Sierra Leone may at first seem unlikely partners but in fisheries terms we share a common goal of developing sustainable, well regulated and most importantly profitable fisheries sectors’.
He said the partnership developing between the two countries offered ‘a quite novel and productive approach’ to tackling illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing.
Mr Gawne added: ‘While in development aid terms the monetary value of the Isle of Man’s contribution is small, the added value comes through my own time and that of other government staff. Our support is as much about time and personal input as it is about money.
‘My government is making a single commitment to a single nation which we hope will strengthen and develop in the future – and most importantly we are building strong personal relationships both at political and officer level.’
Speaking after the conference Mr Gawne said: ‘This was a great platform to promote the Isle of Man’s reputation as a progressive nation that is serious about global responsibility – not only in terms of tax co-operation but also in the context of development aid and sustainability. We are a small country making a big difference to the lives of some of the world’s poorest people, and that is an achievement to be proud of.’
Meanwhile the Isle of Man’s involvement in Sierra Leone has been praised by the World Bank, with which the Manx Government has been working in partnership in the country.
A statement from the organisation said: ‘The task team of the fisheries programme of the World Bank is particularly appreciative of the Isle of Man for providing such well targeted support where it is most needed.’
{http://www.iomtoday.co.im/news/isle-of-man-news/isle-of-man-vessel-helping-to-protect-fish-in-sierra-leone-1-6191477|Phil Gawne also went to Sierra Leone recently.}
