Observation (CEACR) - adopted 1998, published 87th ILC session (1999)

Fishermen's Competency Certificates Convention, 1966 (No. 125) - Sierra Leone (Ratification: 1967)

The Committee notes with regret that once again the Government's report has not been received. It must therefore repeat its previous observation which read as follows:

In earlier comments the Committee noted that there exist no laws or regulations to give effect to the Convention. The Committee recalled the Government's earlier statement that the fishing industry is carried out mostly by vessels of less than 25 GRT not covered by the Convention and its indication that in so far as there may be larger vessels to which the Convention applies, efforts were being made to obtain information from the responsible authorities. The Committee also recalled that under section 57(n) of the Fisheries Management and Development Bill, the Minister would have the power to prescribe qualifications for manning of fishing vessels and thus to draft regulations to apply the Convention. The Committee notes the information provided by the Government in its latest report that it has formulated new regulations for the fishing industry which would incorporate the Committee's comments. The Committee hopes that the Government will provide information on the measures adopted.

The Committee hopes that the Government will make every effort to take the necessary action in the very near future.