International Development Committee chairman returns to Sierra Leone

A Rushen MHK has returned to Sierra Leone to assist a review of the World Bank’s multimillion-pound fisheries support project in the country.

As Chairman of the Isle of Man’s International Development Committee, Phil Gawne has been invited by the World Bank to travel to Freetown.

He’s taking part in discussions about the most effective use of funding to combat illegal fishing and strengthen regulations in the fishing industry.

The World Bank is hoping to support a sustainable management programme for fishing in the country.

And meetings in the West African state will focus on the effectiveness and transparency of the proposed funding.

 In 2012, the Isle of Man gave a fisheries protection vessel to the country, providing a satellite monitoring system for the local fishing fleet.

Mr Gawne – a long-serving fisheries minister – will be providing personal insight into the subject, and will be looking at the progress of Manx projects which focus on education, training and capacity building in Sierra Leone.