The Government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and the Ministry of National Defence via the Liberia Coast Guard, has successfully concluded a week-long joint maritime patrol aimed at combating Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated (IUU) fishing across the Gulf of Guinea.
The operation, conducted in collaboration with member states of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), underscores growing regional commitment to safeguarding marine resources and strengthening enforcement against illicit fishing practices.
The joint patrol team departed Mesurado Pier in Monrovia on a coordinated surveillance mission navigating Liberian waters to the Ivorian border and extending into Ghanaian waters. The exercise, held from April 6–12, 2026, involved cooperation with naval forces from Côte d’Ivoire and Ghana.
Speaking prior to departure, NaFAA Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr. emphasized the importance of sustained regional collaboration in addressing illegal fishing.
“This joint patrol is a critical step toward reducing the significant annual losses Liberia faces due to illegal fishing activities. It also reflects our commitment to working with regional partners to protect our waters,” he said.
Mr. Saygbe further urged the team to remain steadfast in combating unauthorized transshipment and other illicit practices at sea, describing the initiative as a starting point for more sustained and coordinated patrols across the subregion.
Illegal fishing remains a major challenge across FCWC member states, with foreign vessels often operating without authorization and licensed operators violating regulations through the use of prohibited gear, fishing in restricted zones, and harvesting protected species. These practices continue to undermine national revenues and threaten the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
Liberia’s efforts have been backed by its long-standing partnership with Sea Shepherd Global under Operation Sola Stella, launched in 2017.
Lieutenant Commander Georgian Kansuah of the Liberia Coast Guard reaffirmed the Coast Guard’s commitment to collaboration with NaFAA, noting that joint operations remain essential to ensuring maritime security.
The patrol forms part of the broader “Alliance” operation under the West Africa Sustainable Ocean Program (WASOP), funded by the European Union. The initiative focuses on strengthening cross-border cooperation, enhancing vessel tracking, and improving intelligence-sharing among participating countries.
Key objectives include identifying and inspecting suspicious vessels, maintaining a strong enforcement presence at sea, and improving analytical capacity within fisheries monitoring centers.
Through this joint effort, Liberia and its regional partners are sending a clear message: illegal fishing will not be tolerated. The operation marks a significant step toward protecting marine ecosystems, securing livelihoods, and promoting sustainable fisheries management throughout the Gulf of Guinea, said a NaFAA press release signed by its Director of Communication and Media Services, Lewish E.B. Konoe.