By Claudia Redwood-Sawyerr
The Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, has informed that the Closed Fishing Season for the Artisanal Fisheries Subsector will take effect from the 1st to 28th February 2026.
The move is aimed at safeguarding fish stocks and promoting sustainable fisheries management.
Speaking at the weekly government press conference at the Miatta Civic Center on Tuesday, 7th January 2026,
Madam Dugba said that the decision aligns with the Ministry’s core mandate to manage, conserve, and rebuild fish populations while protecting Sierra Leone’s marine ecosystem.
“We are not instituting closed seasons aimlessly; there are clear gains for the fishing sector from this singular decision,” she noted.
The Minister explained that the closed season serves as a critical biological resting period, allowing fishes to spawn and replenish stocks, leading to improved yields in the future. “While previous closed seasons focused mainly on the industrial fisheries subsector, this policy now extends to the artisanal fisheries under an annual framework.”
Minister Dugba emphasized that the measure is consistent with international best practices and also provides Sierra Leone with an opportunity to strengthen sustainable marine resource management.
She assured the public that strict enforcement would be carried out through coordinated monitoring, control, and surveillance.
