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The general outlook for the coastal andmarine environment
of Sierra Leone could be said to have improved over the
last six years. This is due to considerable awareness and
positive national and regional actions which have resulted
in conscientious environmental stewardship and its
sustainability nationally and within the region. This has
been borne out of increased political will and commitment
by successive governments to mainstream environmental
considerations into every aspect of governance at the local/
provincial, national and regional levels.
Common environmental issues, such as declining fish
stocks, land-based and sea-borne pollution, coastal
erosion, physical alteration and destruction of habitats,
etc. pose critical challenges both nationally and regionally.
Efforts need to be made to address specific transboundary
issues through regional and international agreements and
conventions developed and facilitated through bilateral
and multi-lateral International and intergovernmental
institutions. The United Nations agencies (FAO, UNEP,
UNDP, UNIDO, UNESCO/IOCetc.) have beenparticularly
active in facilitating and supporting such initiatives within
the region.
Some projections regarding the outlook/risks for the
Sierra Leone’s coastal and marine environment based
on observed trends are important as they may serve to
further enhance general awareness and understanding of
current and emerging issues, and perhaps act as wake-
up call for appropriate governance, or enable adequate
planning and strategy.
The specific outlook/risk issues considered here relate to
coastal and marine ecosystem conservation strategies,
water quality, natural resources (especially fisheries and
mangroves), coastal development, coastal erosion, marine
litter, invasive alien species, petroleum and mineral
resources, natural hazards, climate change, environment-
related conventions and protocols including those of the
Abidjan Convention.
9.1. Risk assessment
A total of 12 potential risks have been assessed at the
workshop (Fig. 9.1). The assessment examined whether
the risk is likely to exert a significant effect in a 5 or 50
9. Risks to the marine
environment – Coastal and
marine ecosystem conservation
and management strategies
years timeframe. The assessment is based on likelihood of
occurrence and consequence for the environment.
Shipping, coastal erosion, climate change and mining are
identified as high risk factors that could impact the marine
environment within 5 years.
Fishing, oil and gas exploitation, pollution, tourism, port
facilities and overfishing were identified as significant risks
to the marine environment within 5 years. Harmful algal
blooms and eutrophication were identified as moderate to
low risk within the 5 year timeframe.
Considering a 50 year timeframe, the risks of most factors
such as oil and gas exploitation, pollution, port facilities
and overfishing will increase from the ‘significant’ to
‘high’ risk category. Harmful algae bloom is even going
to increase from moderate to high risk. Eutrophication is
considered as a moderate risk.
9.2. Water quality
Recent monitoring of coastal waters of Sierra Leone
suggests that coastal water quality will continue to
deteriorate unless actions to reverse the degradation
are implemented and enforced. Land-based sources
and activities are on the increase affecting near shore
waters, estuaries, lagoons, creeks, etc. and inevitably the
adjacent seas. With increasing population and drift to
coastal areas, coastal water degradation will persist for
the foreseeable future.
9.3. Fisheries
The major fish resources in the area are Round sardinella,
Skipjack tuna, Bigeye grunt and Bonga shad. The
neighbour countries and Sierra Leone have several shared
fish stocks and identified a need for cooperation and
shared management of these resources.
In general, capture production decreased by more than 10
percent after 2000 in both the Western and Eastern Central
areas of the Atlantic Ocean. The preliminary results of the
assessments of the FAO CECAF Working Group on the
Assessment of Small Pelagic Fish (WGASPS) Sub-Group
South indicate the overexploitation of
Sardinella aurita