During the Ministry of Information and Civic Education’s weekly government press briefing on 8th July 2025, the Minister of Fisheries and Marine Resources, Princess Dugba, provided updates on the progress of the Black Johnson Fish Harbour Project.

She said it represents not only a vital step forward for Sierra Leone’s fishing industry but also a promising opportunity for economic growth and enhanced livelihoods for countless individuals in the sector.

This initiative marks a significant collaboration between Sierra Leone and China, made possible through the efforts of President Julius Maada Bio and Chinese President Xi Jinping. She added.

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Furthermore, the Minister revealed that the project received a substantial boost with a $55 million grant from the Chinese Government, which the Sierra Leone Parliament approved in July 2021.  Despite initial delays and concerns over potential budget cuts, she added, “My ministry’s proactive engagement with the Chinese Embassy has preserved the project’s funding, with construction now slated to begin in September 2025”.

Minister Dugba mention that her ministry will launch the Export Certification Portal on July 11, 2025, in partnership with the Chinese Embassy. According to Minister Dugba, this will enable fishermen and women in Sierra Leone to export fish to China at zero tariffs, significantly enhancing their market access and boosting the country’s export revenues.

Additionally, the Acting Director of Fisheries, Sheku Sei, outlined the structural and operational components of the Fish Harbour.

He informed that the facility will include a seafront with a breakwater system, a slipway for offboard activities, a synchro lift for vessel maintenance, cold storage rooms, and processing factories on the foreshore.

He posited that the Fish Harbour will significantly increase revenue in the fisheries sector, potentially generating $59 million annually, in one area of the project alone, compared to the current $10 million.