Sierra Leone Fishers Push for Better Fish Farming Standards

In Tombo, one of Sierra Leone's largest fishing towns, small-scale fishers are teaching researchers an important lesson: they'll embrace innovation, but only if it meets their standards for quality and nutrition.

As wild fish stocks decline from overfishing and climate change, Sierra Leone has been promoting land-based fish farming as a solution. But fishing households haven't been buying in, and a 2023 study reveals why their skepticism matters.

Researchers surveyed three coastal communities and found that fishers weren't rejecting the concept of farming fish. They were rejecting poorly raised fish that didn't meet their nutritional needs. One retired fisherman in his eighties credited his long life to eating wild marine fish daily, explaining that its natural minerals help children and elders build stronger bones.

The fishing communities noticed real problems. They observed that farmed tilapia and catfish had different coloring than wild fish, which they linked to poor water quality. While fish color comes from multiple factors including genetics, their instincts pointed toward legitimate concerns about farming practices.

When researchers visited 15 fish farms in Bo and Tonkolili districts, they confirmed what the fishers suspected. Farmers were struggling with expensive feed and mixing in bread, cassava leaves, and even chicken waste to keep costs down. One farmer explained he couldn't afford to feed both his family and his fish properly.

Expert assessments found that most farms lacked standard methods for feed quality and water management. Fingerlings arrived inconsistently, leading to slow growth and delayed harvests. Without proper resources, the farmed fish genuinely couldn't match the nutritional value of wild catch.

The Bright Side

The fishing communities offered a path forward. Several fishers said they would trust fish farmed in open sea water because the environment would produce fish closer to what they know nourishes their families. They're not opposed to aquaculture itself, they're quality inspectors demanding better standards.

Their detailed feedback about color, taste, and nutrition is now informing efforts to improve Sierra Leone's fish farming industry. When communities that have sustained themselves on marine resources for generations share their expertise, policymakers gain a roadmap for developing aquaculture that people will actually embrace.

The fishers of Tombo are showing that traditional knowledge and innovation don't have to compete. When fishing communities become partners in shaping aquaculture standards rather than targets of top-down programs, both wild fisheries and responsible farming can work together to feed Sierra Leone's future.