By William Selmah, wselmah@gmail.com
It has been revealed in Monrovia that the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) is to shortly begin patrolling Liberian waters in collaboration with the Liberia National Coastal Guard and the Liberia Immigration Service, in order to curb illegal fishing.
An announcement from NaFAA at the weekend said this is as part of a series of measures aimed at curbing illegal fishing activities within the country’s territorial waters.
The agency has at the same time threatened legal action against violators.
NaFAA has warned that fishing gears and canoes illegally operating in Liberian waters would also be seized in the process.
In its announcement released January 28, 2019, NaFAA also spoke against the extraction of endangered marine species including turtles, sea monkeys and dolphins, saying anyone caught with any of them would be fined US$600.00 and the item burnt on the spot to serve as deterrence.
In a related development, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority NaFAA is also cautioning against the issuance of fisheries licenses by unauthorized institutions, warning those involved to desist.
“No government entity or official is constitutionally responsible to issue fisheries license or collect fisheries fees across the nine Coastal Counties of Liberia except the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority,” the announcement reads.
The NaFAA further said it has observed that “an unidentified Officer of the Liberia Immigration Service assigned in Buchannan City, Grand Bassa County issued fisheries license to six individuals including three Liberians and three Sierra Leoneans working for a Chinese company to fish for sea cucumbers in Rivercess County”.
The fisheries regulatory body reiterates that it is the only authorized agency of government agency responsible to issue fishing licenses, as well as, certificates to cold storage operators throughout Liberia.
But NaFAA’s boss, Madam Emma Glassco last week denied that the agreement will Senegal has been finalized.
Even when finalized, she said the deal would not be against the interest of Liberia, as it would employ Liberian seamen and fish and fish products available and cheaper on the local markets.