Search and Rescue Skills Strengthened

-Fisherfolk receive technical training

More than fifty participants, including staff of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), fishermen, and residents from fishing communities across Montserrado, Margibi, Maryland, and Grand Bassa Counties, have received technical training in search and rescue from a delegation of the United Kingdom’s Maritime Search and Rescue Council (MSARC).

The training took place on Thursday, February 12, 2026, at the Liberia Maritime Training Institute in Marshall City, Margibi County.

The four-member MSARC team, led by Chairperson Captain Matthew Schanck, provided instruction in critical lifesaving skills, including survival techniques while in water, methods for keeping rescued victims alive after recovery, and strategies for assisting and calming families and relatives during emergencies. The program forms part of broader efforts to strengthen safety at sea and reduce drowning incidents among fishing communities.

The UK Maritime Search and Rescue Council was brought to Liberia through CAFOD, the official development and humanitarian agency of the Bishops’ Conference of England and Wales and a member of the global Caritas Network. MSARC is an international professional body dedicated to promoting search and rescue training, research, and operational expertise worldwide.

In Liberia, the team is conducting a Training of Trainers (ToT) program focused on operational-level Search and Rescue (SAR) and Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR).

CAFOD, which has operated in Liberia since the 1990s, partners with more than 500 local organizations across 40 countries. Since 2020, the agency has supported Liberia’s fisheries sector by providing technical training, safety gear, navigational equipment, and solar-powered freezers for fish preservation.

The collaboration with MSARC forms part of CAFOD’s broader Safety at Sea program, which aims to enhance operational SAR capacity, deliver lifesaving medical skills, and promote strategic engagement with government institutions to ensure sustainability.

Speaking at the training, CAFOD’s Country Manager for Liberia and Sierra Leone, Michael Mondengele, urged participants to apply the knowledge gained to reduce drowning incidents nationwide. He encouraged trainees to serve as ambassadors within their respective fishing communities by sharing lifesaving information and promoting safe practices at sea.

As part of the program, MSARC conducted practical search and rescue demonstrations at the swimming pool of the Liberia Maritime Training Institute, providing hands-on experience to complement theoretical sessions.

The statement was signed by Lewis E.B. Konoe, Director of Communications and Media Services at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Monrovia.