As part of efforts aimed at generating lawful revenue for government, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), backed by the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Coast Guard, Tuesday June 15, 2021, impounded several canoes for noncompliance with “licensing-before-fishing” regulation.
A press release said the joint enforcement team embarked on the collection of fishery license fees from fisher folks in the coastal community of West Point, saying that the fishermen, primarily operators of Kru canoe, are obligated to paying annual operational fees of US$50 (L$8,500) per canoe, which they reneged on
Operators of fishing canoes, according to the NaFAA release, were given grace period for the payment of their 2021 fishing license fees twice following numerous appeals, but noted that the time grace period given two times as a result of numerous appeals had since elapsed, with no or very limited efforts by fisher folks to comply.
The team arrived in West Point early Tuesday morning, while the fishermen were still in bed thus giving the enforcers the leverage to identify canoes that are in violation of the “licensing-before-fishing” regulation before leaving for fishing.
Led by NaFAA Director General, Emma Metieh Glassco, the joint enforcement team impounded several canoes for the noncompliance of their operators. Director-General Glassco during the enforcement registered her disappointment in the snail-paced voluntary payment of the fees, and the role of the fishing chiefs in ensuring compliance after they had committed themselves.
Madam Glassco was seen moving from different landing sites using canoe and the Liberia Coast Guard patrol boat in search of canoes that are deemed illegally fishing in Liberia’s waters.
Meanwhile, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has given the fisher folks up to Thursday to comply. This decision comes on the heels of numerous appeals to Madam Glassco by the fishermen, the release signed by Trokon Freeman, the Media & Communications Officer of the National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority concluded
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