Bushrod Island-Bushrod Island Liberia- The Deputy Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has received three separate fisheries research materials from the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) as part of research on their European Union-funded Communities for Fisheries project.

Making remarks Tuesday, December 19, 2023, when he received the fisheries research materials from EJF, Hon. Augustine M. Manoballah commended the NGO for the level of research done to compile what he termed as resourceful materials. Hon. Manoballah assured that the materials would be used by fisheries technicians, to enhance their work at NaFAA.

At the same time, Hon. Manoballah commended Authorities of EJF for their work within the Liberian fisheries sector.

The NaFAA Deputy Director General for Administration mentioned that EJF is significantly contributing to progress within the fisheries sector, specifically referring to the establishment and empowerment of the Collaborative Management Associations in some of the Liberia’s coastal counties.

The three research materials turned over to NaFAA by its Program Officer, Augustine Fayiah, entitled “Leaving No One Behind: A community-based analysis of gender inclusion and economic vulnerability in Liberia’s small-scale fisheries, Who Decides? Stakeholders and network analysis of customary governance in small-scale fisheries of Liberia and Taking Stock: Documenting the effectiveness of Co-management practice in Liberia.

Presenting the materials, Mr. Fayiah said the research reports are intended to serve as a go-to resource for technical staffers within NaFAA. He urged NaFAA to utilize the materials for its intended purpose.

The government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, NaFAA and the Government of Morocco have begun preparations ahead of the conduct of the second fisheries stock assessment on Liberian waters. The preparatory works began Friday December 1, 2023 following the arrival of a high-power technical fisheries delegation from the Kingdom of Morocco. The second independent stock assessment will take place in mid-January 2024 with technical assistance from the Moroccan government.

The visit of the Moroccan technical delegation to Liberia, a NaFAA press release is quoted as saying “is predicated upon the need to implement the MoU signed recently between the government of Liberia through NaFAA and the Moroccan government ministry of Aquaculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development, Water and Forestry for the conduct of a fish stock assessment in the Exclusive Zone (EEZ) of Liberia.”

The four-member delegation include Mr. Abdelmalek Faraj Director of the National Institute of Research Halieutique, Mr. Ali Aferyad Chief de division de gestion des moyens de navigation, Mr. Najib Charouuki Chief de division observation directe halieutique and Ms.Soukaina Zizah Chief de Service Suivi des prestation de Service,  all from the National Institute of Research of Morocco.

It can be recalled earlier 2023, the government of the Kingdom of Morocco through its Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime and Fisheries agreed to provide its research vessel to conduct an independent stock assessment on Liberian’s territorial water. Responding to Liberia’s request for technical support Moroccan Fisheries Minister Mohammed Sadiki disclosed that his government will provide the technical assistance to Liberia through its research vessel for the growth and development of the Liberian fisheries sector.

The first fish stock assessment under the CDC led government was conducted in August 2023 with technical assistance from the governments of Guinea and Senegal with the provision of the Guinean research vessel “Lasanna Conteh”.

Moreover, the Moroccan delegation on Saturday December 2, 2023, toured the freeport of Monrovia where its research vessel is expected to dock for the conduct of the second fish stock assessment  in Liberia and later the Moroccan technical team toured the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, NaFAA Fisheries Monitoring Center (FMC) where they saw how monitoring activities are being conducted across Liberian waters and other parts of the world. They were led on the tour by managers of the Research and statistics department.

Previously, the Moroccan delegation held discussions with the Director General of NaFAA Madam Emma Metieh Glassco at NaFAA’s Corporate Headquarters on Bushrod Island reemphasizing their government preparedness to assist Liberia in the conduct of the second scientific fish stock assessment.

Responding, Madam Glassco expressed the government of Liberia deepest satisfaction and appreciation to the government and people of the Kingdom of Morocco for maintaining their commitment to ensure the facilitation of the conduct of a scientific stock assessment on Liberia’s water.

Meanwhile, a stock assessment is a scientific activity by means of a research vessel to acquire scientific information/data on individual species so as to ascertain the commercial viability of those fisheries resources and to further attract investment opportunities.

The stock assessment when completed will thereby ensure improvement in Liberia’s commercial fishing operations across its territorial waters.

United States of America – The United States State Department has recognized efforts by the Authorities of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) in restoring Liberia’s fisheries to their pre-war status. In the US State Department 2022 report on Liberia, it was indicated that “the fishing industry, long dormant compared to pre-war levels, is making improvements that should make it more attractive for investment.” 

This comes in a wake of tremendous reforms and the establishment of improved investment and legal regimes by the Government of Liberia through the management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority to make the sector attractive.

A comment in the Executive summary of the Report is a clear indication that “much has been done to transform the Liberian fisheries sector that has enormous investment opportunities for economic development”.

The US State Department report also indicated that despite the numerous investment challenges in Liberia, the Country is rich in natural resources and has large expanses of potentially productive agricultural land and abundant rainfall to sustain agribusinesses.

This statement according to a NaFAA press release, substantiates NaFAA’s previous calls for Liberians and International investors to take advantage of the unmatched potentials for investment opportunities in the Liberian Fisheries.

Responding to the US State Department Report, NaFAA’s Director General, Madam Emma Glassco, reaffirms the Government’s commitment to ensuring that starting up an investment in the fisheries sector remains seamless, in keeping with current investment policies.

Hon. Glassco furthered stated that NaFAA remains committed to the sustainable management of the fish resources thus ensuring that all international instruments are applied and enforced.