The head of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Madam Glassco has said that the NaFAA will also provide the standardized fishing nets in exchange of the rubber nets known as monofilament, which is harmful to the fish and its environment.
An environmental study shows that fishing nets account for 46 percent of the trash, with the majority of the … Marine plastic can be dangerous to wildlife.
The NaFAA Director General was speaking over the weekend to a large audience of fisheries stakeholders attending first meeting aimed at reforming the fisheries sector.
Mrs. Glassco further has assured stakeholders that CMA will be “a win win situation where those at the helm of authority will enable government raise revenue while government will better their livelihood”.
A statement from the NaFAA said the stakeholders were enthusiastic and motivated when some stakeholders in attendance in attendance including the Inspector Patrick Saylue pledged the full commitment of the police in the implementation of the CMA policies for overall reform of the fisheries sector.
Cross-section of Fisheries Stakeholders including fishermen
The NaFAA’s management says it remains resolute in the formation of the Collaborative Management Authority CMA as a channel to transmitted transformation to the coastal communities across Liberia.
Mrs. Glassco assured that establishment of the Collaborative Management Association would result to huge benefits for all of the coastal communities and all its inhabitants.
As part of efforts to get the full cooperation and consent from Fisheries stakeholders in Montserrado County NaFAA’s organized an elaborate meeting at its Mesurado Pier office, which was attended by representatives from all the fishing communities in Monserrado and Bomi Counties.
The Defense Ministry was represented by the Deputy Chief of Staff, the Liberia National police, District 16 Representative, Commissioners, the Superintendent of Montserrado County, the City Major of Monrovia, Paynesville, and Brewville, the Commissioner of West Point, and authorities of CDA among others.
“NaFAA is bringing Japanese top class manufacturer Yamaha to product motorized boats for Artisanal fishermen to enable them increase their catch and avoid drowning in Liberians waters,” the NaFAA Director General said.
Speaking on behave of the Armed Forces of Liberia, the Deputy Chief of Staff Col.Geraldine George promised to work in collaboration with the Management of NaFAA to ensure full compliance of all fisheries related regulations to increase revenue generation to fisheries authority.
The AFL through the Liberia National Coast Guard has over the years being proactive in assisting government in drastically reducing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities along Liberian waters.
The Montserrado County District # 16 Representative Dickson Sebio was excited about the gathering organized by NaFAA.
He commended the management for its farsightedness and promised to champion a legislation in the House of Legislature to increase tariff on the importation of fish products in Liberia as soon as the CMA is formed and fully implemented in Montserrado County.
All of the Fanti and Kru Chiefs represented at the stakeholders meeting promised full compliance before and during the establishment of the Collaborative Management Authority CMA in Montserrado County.
They noted that the gathering was first of its kind and promised to work closely with the Management of NaFAA for the improvement of their fishing communities.
The purposes of this Agreement between the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority and the CMA (fishing communities) are: to give legal recognition to negotiated responsibilities for sustainable management and good governance of the fisheries resources in the areas under CMA jurisdiction to ensure a sustainable source of livelihood for the coastal communities, among other things.