Monrovia, Liberia – The Government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture
Authority (NaFAA), is preparing to launch semi-industrial fisheries operations in waters
beginning four nautical miles from the Liberian coastline. This significant move follows the
recent validation of Liberia’s first Semi-Industrial Fisheries Management Plan, which was held
recently at the NaFAA Headquarters on Bushrod Island.
Speaking at the event, the Acting Director General of NaFAA, General J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr.,
emphasized the importance of the plan as a critical policy instrument for the sustainable
development of Liberia’s fisheries sector. "This Management Plan is not only timely but also
strategic in ensuring that our semi-industrial fisheries are properly regulated and positioned to
attract sustainable investment,” he said.
Mr. Saygbe disclosed that the Government, through NaFAA, has already completed and
published the formal demarcation of the four-nautical-mile boundary, enabling semi-industrial
vessels to begin operating in designated areas of Liberia’s Exclusive Economic Zone. According
to him, this initiative is essential for creating new economic opportunities and expanding the
country’s fisheries portfolio in a transparent and sustainable manner.
In keeping with international best practices, Mr. Saygbe reiterated Liberia’s commitment to
global transparency mechanisms. He highlighted Liberia’s recent endorsement of the Global
Charter of Fisheries Transparency, alongside its existing membership in the Fisheries
Transparency Initiative (FiTI). “We are working to build a sector that is transparent, inclusive,
and investment-friendly,” he added, urging stakeholders participating in the validation
workshop to remain open and collaborative throughout the process.
Delivering remarks at the event, Deputy Minister for Technical Services of the Ministry of
Agriculture, Hon. Solomon Hedd-Williams, lauded NaFAA’s leadership in developing the
Management Plan but stressed the need for stronger regulatory mechanisms. “We must
tighten the screws on enforcement if we are to achieve meaningful, inclusive development in
line with the Government’s ARREST Agenda,” he said.
The validation workshop also saw active engagement from Liberia’s development partners and
key stakeholders. European Union Representative, Maria Winnubst, urged NaFAA to consider
the needs and interests of artisanal fishermen in the implementation of the plan. She
emphasized the importance of balancing industrial development with community livelihoods.
In response, the President of the Liberia Artisanal Fishermen Association pledged his
organization's full cooperation with NaFAA, affirming a shared commitment to the successful
implementation of the Semi-Industrial Fisheries Management Plan.
The goal of the newly validated plan is to ensure the sustainable exploitation, regulation, and
management of Liberia’s semi-industrial fisheries. It establishes a comprehensive, strategic,
and legally binding framework for effective oversight of this emerging sub-sector.
Based on data from both fisheries-dependent and independent assessments, the plan outlines
a five-year implementation period, with a mid-term review scheduled after the second year.
Its primary objective is to promote long-term ecological, economic, and social benefits through
responsible and sustainable fisheries governance.
As Liberia continues to modernize its fisheries sector, the Semi-Industrial Fisheries
Management Plan represents a milestone step toward greater resource sustainability,
improved livelihoods, and increased national revenue generation.