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

In its earlier comments, the Committee noted the Government's statement that in Sierra Leone the fishing industry is carried on mostly by vessels of less than 25 GRT, which are not covered by the Convention. The Government indicated that, in so far as there may be larger vessels to which the Convention does apply, efforts are being made to obtain information from the responsible authorities. The Committee noted that under section 57(n) of the Fisheries Management and Development Bill, the Minister would have the power to prescribe qualifications for fishing vessels' manning and thus to draft regulations to apply the Convention. The Committee hopes that the reports due will be supplied and that the Government will be able to indicate, as far as vessels covered by the Convention are concerned, whether it has been possible to prepare the regulations necessary in order to apply the Convention and to supply full details.

In addition, the Committee would appreciate information concerning efforts made by the Government to obtain details of vessels to which the Convention may apply.