Sierra Leone: Black Johnson Beach to become fishing harbor under China deal

The government of Sierra Leone is planning to build a fishing harbor off the village of Black Johnson. Some 252 acres of land in Whale Bay has been earmarked for the project. But residents and environmentalists are up in arms: They fear eviction and pollution in the area where fish breed.

The seaside village and its beaches that are famous for ecotourism are set in a region with sequin ecosystems, adjacent to forest on the Freetown Pensinsula. The area is earmarked as a UNESCO World Heritage site. It is an ideal spot for ecological developments and attracts a variety of fish species, mammals and plants. Whales visit the area sporadically.

Ecotourism entrepreneur Tommy Gbandewa has been in the tourist business on Black Johnson Beach for over 15 years. He can't understand why a fishing harbor should be constructed in an ecotourism area. There was no offer to resettle, only compensation, he says. But he worries that people will have to leave their houses and land soon.

New landowners are rushing in to develop property at tremendous speed — erecting perimeter fences even before building the houses. It is their way of keeping out intruders, especially government officials on control visits. Sierra Leone is using a grant from China worth $55 million (around €46 million) for the construction.

Local fishermen worry about the habor construction. This daughter of a fisherman fears that people will lose their jobs, causing their families to struggle. In the past, fishing trawlers have distrupted the livelihoods of the fishermen. The government says the harbor will create jobs, increase fish stock and exports to international markets.

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is normally the first port of call when it comes to big plans that affect the environment. But it was not informed about the fishing harbor project on Black Johnson Beach. The EPA also never received an environmental impact assessment to consider the matter ahead of construction.

The World Bank carried out some assessments at various locations around Freetown to investigate the suitability of a location for the construction of a fishing harbour. The result: The bank has blacklisted Black Johnson Beach for the project. But the Ministry of Fisheries and Marine Resources guarantees that the beach is the appropriate location — mainly for technical reasons.

Residents, conservationists and rights groups criticize the fishing harbour on the sands of Black Johnson Beach as a "catastrophic human and ecological disaster." The waters are rich in sardines, barracuda and grouper, caught by local fishermen who produce 70% of the fish for the domestic market. The harbour is built for tuna boats and other bigger fishing vessels exporting the products.

The sands of Black Johnson fringe the African nation's Western Area Peninsula National Park, home to endangered species including duiker antelope and pangolin. The construction of the industrial harbour would destroy pristine rainforests, conservations say. They — together with local residents — have written a letter to the president, calling for him to intervene and stop the construction.