MONROVIA – 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.
The significant move followed the recent validation of Liberia’s first Semi-Industrial Fisheries Management Plan, which was held on Thursday, June 19, 2025 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, had 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 for 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, reaffirming 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.
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