Liberia strengthens fisheries sector with FAO partnership

LIBERIA – The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) in Liberia, Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, recently engaged in a pivotal bilateral discussion with Manuel Barange, the Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations. 

The meeting, which took place in Rome, Italy, during the Committee on Fisheries 36th Session (COFI 36), was focused on advancing Aquaculture (Fish Farming) Development in Liberia.

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) oversees the regulation of Liberia’s fisheries sector, aiming to foster growth and sustainability.

The FAO has pledged to support Liberia’s aquaculture sector, emphasizing a partnership that aims to enhance the country’s legal framework and build technical capacity. 

This collaboration is expected to attract significant investment to Liberia’s fisheries sector. 

The FAO’s involvement is anticipated to shift the country’s fish farming from a subsistence level to a sustainable and commercially viable industry, thereby creating job opportunities, boosting food security, and increasing the availability of fresh fish in local markets. 

The primary focus will be on cultivating Tilapia and catfish.

The FAO has also committed to ensuring women’s participation in aquaculture through capacity-building initiatives, particularly in producing fish feed to support aquaculture development.

Liberia, through NaFAA, plans to submit an official request to the FAO to formalize the partnership, which will include a technical exchange program with countries like Egypt, known for their advanced aquaculture practices in Africa.

Liberia’s coastal counties, renowned for their rich fishing grounds, significantly contribute to the country’s livelihood, nutrition, and economy. 

The fisheries sector accounts for approximately 10% of Liberia’s GDP and employs about 33,000 people full-time, with many more working part-time. 

The sector is divided into three main components: marine fisheries, inland fisheries, and aquaculture, with artisanal and semi-artisanal coastal fisheries comprising around 86% of the country’s fisheries.

In 2020, Liberia’s artisanal fisheries yielded 18,086 tons of fish, while industrial trawlers contributed 5,113 tons.

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