Monrovia – A high-level Liberia-European Union meeting gets underway July 4-5, 2018 at NaFAA’s Technical Office, Mesurado Pier on Bushrod Island, with discussions expected to focus on development Liberian fisheries sector.
According to a NaFAA Press release, the high power European Union delegation has arrived in Monrovia to discuss issues surrounding the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) between the Liberian delegation through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture authority (NaFAA) and the European Union.
The SFPA is aimed at promoting responsible fisheries to ensure long-term conservation and sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources.
At the same time, the Liberian-European Union discussion will also focus on the lifting of Liberia’s Yellow Card imposed by the European Union as a result of non-compliance in the fisheries sector.
Some Members of the Union’s delegation for this meeting include:
- Ivan Vazquez, Susana
- Junquera Lopez and,
- Louize Hill.
It can be recalled that in 2015, Liberia and the European Union signed the Sustainable Fisheries Partnership Agreement (SFPA) which, among other things, is aimed at promoting responsible fisheries to ensure long-term conservation and sustainable exploitation of marine biological resources.
In exchange for access fees, a payment on the tonnage of fish caught, and funding towards the running costs and development of NaFAA, worth over £3.5m in total, 32 EU vessels are permitted to fish for Tuna in the offshore zone of Liberia’s 200 mile Exclusive Economic Zone. These boats are not allowed to fish inshore at any time, or to target other species.
Meanwhile, the EU advance team led by Lewis Hill has held technical discussions with NaFAA Administration on Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU)fishing activities on Liberian waters.
The Discussion which was held Monday at the Mesurado’s pier on Bushrod Island could likely lead to the lifting of the yellow card imposed on Liberia.