Monrovia – The first Liberian Ocean Governance conference was held Friday, June 6, 2025 with diverse perspectives to drive actions aimed at fostering sustainable ocean use in Liberia.
By Emmanuel Weedee-Conway
Supported by the Swedish Embassy in Monrovia in collaboration with Conservation International, Liberia, the inaugural edition, held at the University of Liberia, brought together policymakers, researchers, and community representatives to share ideas and shape the strategic direction for sustainable ocean use in Liberia.
At the end of the event, which came at the end of a four-day Liberian Ocean Governance Seminar, participants crafted a detailed communique that outlines planned actions to undertake in realization of a sustainable ocean governance in Liberia.
The communique, which was read by Ms. Mosiatta Faith Johnson, emphasized the importance of integrating ocean literacy into our education system.
The communique stressed the necessity of prioritizing capacity building to enhance Liberia’s significant involvement in regional and global ocean governance, the need to boost women’s participation, and, most critically, the urgency for a cohesive national ocean policy in Liberia.
The stakeholders believe that increase in ocean literacy will serve a fundamental means to enhance ocean knowledge, build connections with people’s lives, and encourage citizens and stakeholders to act in a positive way for our ocean.
In realization of the diverse and critical role the ocean plays in the Liberian Economy, and people have little knowledge about the ocean, participants called on the Government of Liberia, through the relevant institutions, to advance coordination in order to integrate ocean literacy in the national curriculum.
This, according to them, will promote massive awareness around the ocean and advance sustainable uses of our ocean.
As Liberia’s involvement in regional ocean governance expands, they pointed out the need to align this expansion with capacity building to ensure Liberia continues to meaningfully participate in both regional and global ocean governance.
“Capacity building is crucial for attaining integrated ocean management, particularly in a transitioning economy like Liberia’s. Capacity building, including the formulation of national ocean policy and enhanced ocean governance, encompasses development at three tiers: individual, institutional, and societal,” reads the communique.
Furthermore, stakeholders at the conference stressed the need for gender inclusivity owing to the important role women play, particularly, in the fisheries sector.
By this, they urged the government and international partners to design policy and laws that protect and encourage women participation in ocean governance.
“In addition to the fisheries sector, we also call for more women participation in other sectors, particularly the lucrative maritime sector of Liberia,” states the group in the communique.
Among other things, participants at the conference craved the pressing need for different stakeholders to coordinate a comprehensive ocean policy, reflective of the views of all stakeholders’ particularly coastal communities.
“Coordination is therefore necessary to streamline efforts among key government stakeholders but also elevate the role of local stakeholder.”
At the same time, speaking at the conference, the Assistant Minister of Coastal Affairs from the Ministry of Defense commended the initiative and reaffirmed the ministry’s dedication to enhancing awareness about the Ocean.
Minister Kamara also highlighted the significant potential of this event to inspire Liberian interest in the maritime sector and enhance ocean awareness at the grassroots level.
Also in remarks, Mr. Fred Ahiati, representing the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Liberia, conveyed his enthusiasm regarding the event, referring to it as “a monumental victory for ocean governance in Liberia.”
He emphasized that the Department took pride in being one of the dedicated partners organizing this significant event.
For his part, a lecturer at the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences at the University of Liberia, and Mr. John Saylay Singbaei II, raised the significance of coordinated governance of the Ocean, expressing concern over the fragmentation in the current governance.
The convener of the conference, Mr. Singbaei, Executive Director Cavalla Institute and an expert in Ocean Law and Policy, maintained that the ocean, if properly governed, will bring immense economic benefits to the government and people of Liberia.