MONROVIA —Liberia will host a major National Fisheries Investment Conference later this month aimed at attracting investment, expanding marine resource development and positioning the country’s fisheries sector as a key pillar of economic growth, the Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., announced Thursday at the Ministry of Information Regular Press Briefing.
By J.H. Webster Clayeh
Mr. Saygbe said the two-day conference, scheduled for March 30–31 at the Farmington Hotel, will convene international investors, development partners, policymakers, and fisheries experts to explore opportunities in Liberia’s largely underdeveloped marine economy.
Mr. Saygbe said Liberia’s waters contain substantial fish resources that remain underutilized.
According to NaFAA data, Liberia’s marine ecosystem holds an estimated 254,000 metric tons of deep-water fish biomass and 94,000 metric tons of surface-water species, yet the country currently harvests only about 53,000 metric tons annually.
“Liberia’s fisheries resources are immense, but they have not been fully harnessed to benefit our people,” Mr. Saygbe said.
“This conference is intended to highlight investment opportunities and create partnerships that will help us transform the fisheries sector into a major driver of jobs, food security, and economic growth.”
The initiative forms part of the government’s broader push to expand the blue economy, a concept that promotes sustainable use of ocean resources for economic development while preserving marine ecosystems.
He said the conference also aligns with Liberia’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, as well as international commitments, including the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy, ECOWAS fisheries governance frameworks, and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 on marine conservation.
The conference will feature discussions designed to connect investors with government institutions and private-sector stakeholders involved in Liberia’s fisheries industry.
According to Mr. Saygbe, the event will create a platform for public-private partnerships, business-to-business engagement and policy dialogue, allowing Liberia to present its fisheries potential to the international community.
Golden Touch Corporation was selected through a World Bank-supported competitive process to organize the event.
Several government institutions and sector stakeholders are participating in the conference planning, including the National Investment Commission, Bureau of State Enterprises, Liberia Maritime Authority, National Port Authority, Central Bank of Liberia, Ministry of Agriculture and the Liberia Artisanal Fishermen Association, among others.
One of the conference’s key attractions will be a “Blue Marketplace,” where scientists from NaFAA will display some of Liberia’s high-value marine species and highlight investment opportunities in fisheries production and processing.
International experts will also showcase emerging technologies designed to strengthen fisheries governance.
He said specialists from Slovenia will introduce Blue Trapper technology, a monitoring system designed to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing — a persistent challenge across West African waters.
Representatives from Morocco’s fisheries industry are also expected to demonstrate techniques in seafood processing and value addition, while Liberian fish farmers will display locally produced tilapia, catfish, and other aquaculture products.
The two-day event will feature multiple panel discussions covering critical issues affecting fisheries development.
Topics will include blue economy financing, fisheries governance, aquaculture investment opportunities, climate resilience, technology and innovation, and improving market access for seafood products.
Mr. Saygbe said the conference will bring together 44 panelists from Liberia and abroad, with moderators drawn from institutions including the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, the Environmental Protection Agency of Liberia, and international fisheries organizations.
In total, 32 international panelists and 12 Liberian experts are expected to participate. President Joseph Boakai is expected to formally launch three strategic policy documents during the conference’s opening session.
These include a 10-year national fisheries strategic plan, a public-private partnership framework for the fisheries sector and a national investment roadmap designed to guide development of the industry over the next decade.
Mr. Saygbe said the documents will provide a structured approach to expanding fisheries production while ensuring sustainability and responsible resource management.
Liberia will also present three major investment proposals to potential partners during the conference. The first involves the establishment of a Liberian industrial fishing fleet, which would allow the country to operate its own fishing vessels while partnering with private operators to expand commercial fishing activities.
The second proposal focuses on building a dedicated industrial fishing port and dry dock facility, addressing the current lack of infrastructure for servicing vessels operating in Liberian waters.
“At present, many vessels operating here must travel to Ghana or Senegal for maintenance,” Mr. Saygbe said. “Developing a dry dock facility will significantly reduce operational costs and strengthen Liberia’s fisheries industry.”
The third proposal involves launching Liberia’s first industrial-scale aquaculture farm in Nimba County, with additional fish farming projects planned in other parts of the country.
The opening ceremony is expected to draw senior officials from across the region, including fisheries ministers from Morocco, Ghana and Sierra Leone, along with senior Liberian government officials and development partners.
Mr. Saygbe said international interest in Liberia’s fisheries sector has grown in recent months, particularly following the country’s participation in the Seafood for Africa Conference in Morocco, where officials promoted investment opportunities in the sector.
Ahead of the investment conference, NaFAA will also organize its next Fish Market Day on March 14 at Invincible Park in Monrovia.
The event will feature around 50 women fish processors and traders selling locally sourced seafood directly to consumers. He said the initiative aims to strengthen local fisheries value chains while supporting women engaged in fish processing and marketing.
Customers who pay through Orange Money will receive a 10 percent discount, he added. The conference is being supported by several international partners, including the World Bank, the European Union, ProBlue, and Orange Liberia, Mr. Saygbe said.
He described the gathering as an important opportunity to showcase Liberia’s fisheries potential and attract long-term investment into the sector.
“We want to demonstrate that Liberia has the resources, the policies, and the investment climate to grow a strong fisheries industry,” Mr. Saygbe said. “This conference is about positioning the sector as a major contributor to Liberia’s economic future.”
