NaFAA, Partners Break Ground for Klay Hatchery Project -World Bank Country Manager Lauds Government

MONROVIA – The World Bank Liberia Country Manager, on May 9 commended the Government of Liberia and the National Fisheries and Aqua Authority for reaching ground for the Klay Hatchery project, which after completion, she said, “will serve as a cornerstone for the development of a robust aquaculture sector”.

She praised the initiative as having the capacity to provide a reliable, year-round supply of high-quality fingerlings, helping to ensure a stable source of affordable, nutritious protein for Liberian communities.

“On behalf of the World Bank, I extend hearty congratulations to the Government of Liberia and NaFAA for your strong commitment and leadership in reaching this important milestone,” she said.

She reiterated the World Bank’s comment to supporting Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector through the Liberia Sustainable Fisheries Management Project.

“And today, we mark a key milestone in this partnership,” Ms Warren said, noting that the World Bank Group mission is to end extreme poverty and promote shared prosperity on a livable planet. 

As a development partner dedicated to promoting job creation, food security, and climate resilience, the World Bank, she said, views the construction of the Klay Hatchery as a strategic, high-impact investment.

She asserted that Liberia’s fisheries sector holds significant untapped potential, noting that the current dependence on capture fisheries places pressure on marine ecosystems and increases vulnerability—particularly in the context of climate change and food insecurity.

The hatchery will serve as a cornerstone for the development of a robust aquaculture sector, the World Bank official further said, stressing that it will provide a reliable, year-round supply of high-quality fingerlings, helping to ensure a stable source of affordable, nutritious protein for Liberian communities.

“Importantly, the hatchery will generate jobs across the aquaculture value chain—creating meaningful opportunities, especially for women and youth,” she insisted. “It aligns closely with Liberia’s broader sustainable development goals, particularly in food security, resource conservation, research, and capacity building.”

Beyond enhancing food security, Ms. Warren said, the hatchery has the potential to catalyze inclusive economic growth, to empower smallholder fish farmers by enabling them to expand production, access markets more competitively, and improve their livelihoods.

At the same time, she emphasized, it will reduce dependence on imported inputs and create opportunities for private sector engagement—laying the groundwork for systemic transformation and creation of more and better jobs.

“From our perspective, this initiative is far more than an infrastructure project; it is a platform for growth, job creation, and sustainable development,” she asserted, indicating that “today’s efforts represent a shared investment in the future of Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector—one that will contribute not only to this vital sector, but also to broader national prosperity and progress.