Illegal fishing in Sierra Leone stamped out by locals

Local fishing communities in Sierra Leone have been policing their own waters and stamping out illegal fishing. EJF raised money to equip a surveillance boat with gps and camera gear to allow communities to record and report the boats, mainly trawlers, that operate illegally in protected inshore waters.

So far the project has been a huge success: US$500,000 has been collected in fines and $6m of illegal fish seized – fish that would otherwise have made its way to EU markets. Most important at all, none of the illegal boats have been seen in inshore waters for the last 6 months.

[vimeo]http://vimeo.com/51133202#[/vimeo]