PHOTO: World Bank Country Manager and Finance Minister displaying the signed document as NaFAA DG Joyously looks on after the signing ceremony
The Liberian fisheries sector is at the verge of improving as the government of Liberia has officially signed a World Bank financing agreement for the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries project worth US$40 Million, aimed at improving fisheries management and enhancing livelihood and income for government and targeted beneficiaries.
Speaking during the official signing ceremony on Tuesday, October 19, 2021 in Monrovia, the Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority in a joyous mood among other things mentioned that the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries project will lead to the expansion of the Mesurado fishing pier which was constructed decades ago.
A NaFAA press release said, Madam Emma Metieh Glassco disclosed during the ceremony that upon the completion of the Mesurado Pier into an industrial port it would allow more than 77 industrial fishing vessels land their catches. Additionally she emphasized that the gains to be reaped from this project remain immense ranging from the creation of job opportunities for the ordinary Liberian through the establishment of fish processing facilities, cold storages to the overwhelming increment in revenue generation by national government.
All of the catches from those industrial vessels are landed into neighboring countries and as such those countries domestic markets are supplied with huge quantities of fish and fish products thus denying Liberian population in need of fish supply, she asserted.
Commenting further Hon. Glassco who has been upbeat for such World Bank support explained that upon the inception of her entity NaFAA she had urged President George Manneh Weah and the Finance minister Samuel Tweh make fisheries a top priority because of the potential the sector has to transform the Liberian economy.
At the same time, Liberia is losing 50% of revenue to other countries due to the lack of industrial ports so now is the time that Liberia reclaims all of those loses after the construction of the industrial port at the Mesurado pier on Bushrod island.
She indicated that in the absence of the industrial port, Liberia as a coastal state is currently importing 60 million worth of fish and fish products per annual which is about 28,000 metric tons which according to her is not a good news because of Liberia status as a coastal state. Madam Glassco mentioned that despite been a coastal state Liberia lacks the ability to adequately supply the population with the needed supply of fish.
She recalled that several studies were done by Liberian fisheries technicians at NaFAA to verified that all of the claims such as the loss of revenue, lack of ability to supply protein to the population among other things have resulted to this historic signing ceremony.
Hon. Glassco said the three times expansion of the Mesurado Pier will lead to the creation of huge job opportunities for Liberia and Liberians, provide huge supply of fish on Liberian markets at a cheaper rate, reduce the net importation of fish and part of the money will provide landing sites for the local fishermen.
She stressed “landing and cold storage facilities are serious challenges facing the Liberian fisheries sector. These are issues that make the fisheries sector look dormant.
Madam Glassco said “under President George Weah Administration the fishing activities will be transformed as they would not be pulling their canoes with much physical strength, they will be going to sea with ice, upon return from fishing they would land their catches at the designated landing sites that will be constructed with the World Bank financial support”.
Also making remarks at the signing ceremony, World Bank Country Manager Dr. Khwima assured that the project will support the needed interventions across the whole value chain, such as investments in new alternative vessels and fishing gears for getting the fish from the sea; modern landing fishing harbor at the Mesurado pier in Monrovia.
Dr. Khwinma also added that under the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries project there would be the “construction of access roads, services and markets halls so that the fish is easily marketed”.
For his part, finance Minister Samuel Tweh declared that Liberian economy is moving towards the fisheries sector with the huge support of the World Bank financial support through the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries project.
Minister Tweh said the signing of the World Bank financing agreement will provide opportunities for Liberian fishermen as they stand to immensely benefit through the transformation of their livelihoods.