NaFAA Begins Massive Awareness

-NaFAA Begins Massive Awareness

The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority NaFAA Friday January 24, 2020 led a taskforce comprising the Liberia National Coast Guard, the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Immigration service on an awareness campaign into fishing communities within Montserrado County on the recent adjustment made in the fishing fees structure announced by the Liberian Fisheries Authority.

It can be recalled early January 2020 the Government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) announcement an adjustment in the Fishing License Fees for Fishermen engaged in semi-industrial fishing activities throughout the nine coastal Counties based on the capacity of outboard machines/ motorized fishing boats. Making the pronouncement NaFAA’s Director General Mrs. Emma Glassco pointed out that the new fees structure for the small skills fish licensing program takes immediate effect.

Speaking during a jam-packed press conference held in her office Mrs. Glassco called on all semi-industrial fishermen across Liberia to cooperate with government in the payment of their 2020 fishing license fees as no fisherman will be allow to fish without the 2020 fishing license.

As part of efforts to ensure compliance and take NaFAA to the fishing communities across the nine coastal counties the Glassco Management kickoff a massive awareness campaign which initially affected fishing communities across the Township of West Point, the borough of New Kru Town and Banjor Virginia in Montserrado Counties.

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) announces to the public that its Taskforce will begin a vigorous awareness on the adjustments made in the Fishing License Fees for Fishermen engaged in semi-industrial fishing in Liberia.

NaFAA Taskforce comprising the Liberia National Coast Guard, Liberia National Police, and Liberia Immigration Service will be led by its Director General Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco and it will tour fishing communities across Montserrado county.

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) Taskforce will be seen across fishing communities in Monrovia every Thursday and Friday.

Meanwhile, the Liberian Fisheries Authority wishes to advise that fishermen engaged in the changing of the canoes name without informing NaFAA is a crime.

Fishermen using one fishing license for more than two canoes is a crime. All unlicensed canoes will be chained and locked on the various beaches.

The Government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) wishes to announcement an adjustment in the Fishing License Fees for Fishermen engaged in semi-industrial fishing activities throughout the nine coastal Counties based on the capacity of outboard machines/ motorized fishing boats. The new fees structure for the small skills fish licensing program takes immediate effect.

NaFAA is calling on all semi-industrial fishermen across Liberia to cooperate with government in the payment of their 2020 fishing license fees as no fisherman will be allow to fish without the 2020 fishing license.

Motorized canoes using 1 Horse power to 14 horse machine will now pay USD$200.00 to obtain their fishing licenses to fish across the country and those with 15 horse power to 40 horse power capacity are require to pay USD$475.00. Motorized canoes with 41 horse power to 100 horse power will pay USD$1,000.00 and Migrant or seasonal fishermen will pay USD1,250.00.

The amount stipulated above can also be paid in Liberians dollars equivalent.

Absolutely no fisherman will be permitted to fish without being in possession of the 2020 and 2019 licenses as the joint fisheries taskforce comprising the Liberia National Coast Guard, Ministry of Commerce, the Liberia National Police, Liberia Drug Enforcement agency and the Liberia Immigration service will begin vigorous inspection across Liberia’s coastal communities to enforce the payment of the license fees.

WINAFRICA Liberia’s Chapter President Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco

Monrovia, Liberia - Liberia has joined other countries in Africa in the establishment of a chapter of Women in Maritime in Africa (WIMAFRICA) in partnership with the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the United Nations.

This is to inform the General Public that Program Marking the Official Induction of Code of Officers and Launching of the Women in Maritime in Africa Liberia Chapter is scheduled to take place in Monrovia on December 23, 2019 at 10:00am. The induction and launching ceremony will take place at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town.

The Women in Maritime in Africa, Liberian Chapter ceremony will bring together special guests of honor including former Liberian Female President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, H.E Chief Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, Vice President Republic of Liberia; Hon. Lawrence Barchue-Assistant Secretary General, IMO-UN; Elizabeth Naa Afoley Quaye, Minister of Fisheries Republic of Ghana and Madam Jean Chiazor Anishere, President of the Women in Maritime in Africa Network among others.

Also expected to grace the occasion include Officials from the Seafarers Union, Fish Monger Association, Liberia Maritime Authority, Ministry of Transport, LISCR, EPA, and NPA.                     

The Women in Maritime Africa Association (WIMAFRICA) is made up of female maritime professionals, leaders, and entrepreneurs throughout the African maritime sector (and related areas) from all the countries and various regions and sub-regions of the continent.

Meanwhile, the aim of the Association is to increase the visibility of women in the maritime sector which is perceived to be a male dominated sector. It also includes cooperation in building capacity, training, education and development of entrepreneurial projects in order to contribute effectively to global efforts towards Women's Economic Empowerment, Representation and Leadership in Maritime and the Blue Economy.  The establishment of WIMAFRICA is to contribute effectively to realize the African Union Agenda 2063.

(L To R) Hon. Emma Metieh Glassco NaFAA DG, Prof. Alex Dodoo of Ghana and Deputy Commerce Minister Nyema Wisner

The government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and the Ministry of Commerce Friday November 22, 2019 signed a Technical Cooperation with the Ghana Standard Authority as a temporary arrangement for the certification and testing of Liberian Fish and Fish Product only, for export to the EU market.

At the same time, Liberia has sent two technicians from the Commerce Ministry to Brussels to undergo training for the REX Program (Registered of Exporters) so that the REX program can be maintain and implemented in Liberia. These are set criteria prior to the commencement for direct export of fish and fish product from Liberia to the EU market.

According to a NaFAA Press Release, Prior to this arrangement, the Legislature under the Weah led government signed unto the economic partnership agreement which is the framework for implementing the REX program which allows export to EU market on a zero% tariff basis. And, this is the first time that Liberia fish and fish product will be exported to the EU market under this program and it’s also a gateway for other Liberian products to hit the EU market.

In another development, Liberia through NaFAA for the first time, has Flagged Two Tuna Purse seiners of Sovereign Trade Services a Liberian registered company (industrial pelagic fishing vessels) on its domestic vessel registry and attracted investment to start operating by January 2020.

2nd National Plan of Action for the conservation of sharks and ray

The Deputy Director General for Technical Services at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has stressed the importance of the conservation of sharks and ray in Liberia.

Speaking Friday during the 2nd National Plan of Action for the conservation of sharks and ray in Liberia, Mr. William Boeh said the continuous conservation of sharks and ray across Liberia indicates that Liberia is in full compliance with international fisheries protocols.

“the conservation of sharks and ray is cardinal to Liberia and the world at large, therefore it incumbent upon all of us Liberians with support from our International partners to protect those fisheries” stated NaFAA Deputy Director for Technical Services William Boeh.

Mr. Boeh challenged stakeholders to ensure the full implementation of the National Plan of Action for the conservation of sharks and ray across Liberia.

Making presentation during the stakeholders meeting, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) Liberia Project Officer pointed out that restoring the populations of sharks is important and can yet deliver ecological surprise.

Monrovia, Liberia - The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has disclosed that a Liberian licensed French tuna fishing vessel ‘Avel Vor’ has sunk some 180 nautical miles off Liberia’s coast last week.

The Management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) wishes to announce with immediate effect, the suspension of Guoji 828 and Guoji 831 Fishing Licenses for issues relating to the death of a Liberian Sailor on board Guoji 831 vessel.

NaFAA Liberia D.G.

Malaga, Spain- The Liberian government, through the Director-General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), has signed the Cape Town Agreement, committing to the full implementation of the international fisheries protocols.

The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco has the distinguished honor, to serve as Speaker at the women in fisheries side event to be held on the margins of the Ministerial conference on fishing Vessel safety and IUU Fishing of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) of the United Nations in Malaga, Spain from 21-23, October 2019.  

This event, which was driven by the 2019 World Maritime theme on Empowering Women in the Maritime Community, will bring together key stakeholders from around the world to debate issues around the roles and visibility of women in the sector.

At the Malaga, Spain conference, Mrs. Glassco will deliberate on several issues ranging from gains made under her leadership at national level, regional perspective of women empowerment in fisheries (a case study of Liberia and West Africa), the role of women in food (fish) safety and supply chain, as well as policy recommendations to enhance women participation and visibility in the maritime sector.

The Conference aims to promote ratification of the Cape Town Agreement, a key IMO treaty for safety of fishing vessels. The entry into force of the Cape Town Agreement will help deter the proliferation of illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, by establishing international safety standards for fishing vessels.

The Conference is intended for ministers, policymakers, senior officials and relevant experts responsible for implementing fishing vessel safety and IUU fishing policies as well as enacting national legislation to ratify the Agreement.

The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority NaFAA is commending Authorities of the European Union for its support to staff training in internet programs.

Speaking Thursday at the end of the three days EU support training on Internet Outlook Training Mrs. Glassco said “from today, all NaFAA staff will be working with official NaFAA email addresses, and according to a protocol designed to increase transparency, accountability and efficiency of our officers. Training has been provided to all staff to support this move. In addition, a number of dedicated email addresses have been created, for example, for enquiring about licenses, or requesting a fisheries inspection.

The NaFAA Boss mentioned “I request that anyone contacting NaFAA, on any aspect of the wide range of services it provides to fishermen, fish traders, sellers and vessel agents, use only the new official email addresses that have been created, a list of which is available on the NaFAA website. From today onward, no NaFAA business will be conducted via private emails, and any queries through private email will need to be directed to the official accounts”.

She said “I very much welcome this move, one of a number of improvements to service and accountability that NaFAA Management is bringing in, to help us as we support the development of Liberia’s rich fisheries.”

The three days EU sponsored Internet Outlook Training has seen all staff migrated to dedicated NaFAA email addresses, which from Thursday October 17, 2019 will replace entirely the use of private email address for conducting NaFAA business.

Monrovia, Liberia - A European Union Sponsored Internet Outlook Training for staffs of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has kicked off at the Mesurado Pier on the Bushrod Island outside Monrovia.

Monrovia, Liberia - The Government of Liberia and the Japanese Government have signed a Fishery Grant Agreement for the supply of Motorize Yamaha engines to local fishermen in Montserrado, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa and Rivercess Counties without cost.

As Director General Glassco Sign MOU for Fisheries Research

Monrovia, Liberia - The Government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), has signed a Fisheries Research Memorandum of Understanding with the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization in Monrovia. The MOU entails fisheries independent stock assessment using a fisheries research vessel named RV Dr Fridtjof Nansen.

Monrovia, Liberia - As part of efforts to achieve the Pro Poor Agenda for Prosperity and Development of the Congress for Democratic Change (CDC) led government as its relates to capacity building, 25 Staffs of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFFA) are expected to depart Liberia on Tuesday July 16, 2019 for a month long mariculture training in China, a release from NaFAA has said.

Chinese and Liberian Delegation During Dinner

Monrovia, Liberia - The people of China have pledged their continuous support toward the manpower development of Liberian Citizens and more infrastructure developments across Liberia.