Says NaFAA DG Glassco, As First Comprehensive Fish Stock Assessment Begins In Monrovia
PHOTO: NaFAA DG Emma Glassco (above) speaking during the arrival of the “RV Lansana Conte” (below) at the BMC Pier in Monrovia
The Director General of the Liberian Fisheries sector has disclosed that the country’s fisheries sector is now on the verge of reaching an industrial level as she commissioned the first comprehensive and independent fish stock assessment Monday August 14, 2023 at the Bong Mines Fishing Pier on Bushrod Island outside Monrovia.
A press release from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) says this is for the sole purpose of developing a management plan that would inform the fisheries authority on the fish resources and the number of vessels to be licensed to fish.
“This process is complete as Liberia has successfully contracted the services of the Oceanographic Research Center of Dakar- Senegal (CRODT) to assess its coastal pelagic (mid water) and demersal (bottom) fish resources,” said NaFAA DG Emma M. Glassco.
It can be recalled, sometime ago, the government of Liberia through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) entered into a bilateral arrangement with the Senegalese government which later arranged with the Guinean government for the use of its research vessel “RV Lansana Conte” for the conduct of a comprehensive fish stock assessment across the country.
Addressing a live media coverage in the front of “RV Lansana Conte” at the BMC Pier Madam Emma Metieh Glassco disclosed that Liberia will shortly achieve its potential in the fisheries sector following the comprehensive and independent fish stock assessment which will impact the nine coastal counties.
“This is a transition from small skill fisheries to a commercially viable fishing industrial fisheries sector.”
Madam Glassco disclosed that the entire financing of the stock assessment under the World Bank-sponsored ‘Liberia Sustainable Fisheries Management Project’ is put at more than US2Million, saying that the stock assessment would reveal the entire potential of the Liberian Fisheries sector and at the same time mentioned that following the process across Liberia, fish importation will be minimized as such Liberian markets will be flooded with Liberian fish products.
“Liberia has a history of having an abundance of shelve fish, once the biggest exporter of sea food in the 1970s into Europe, Asia and other parts of the World, we have one of the best shrimps, but we cannot attract investors now because we do have any scientific information to prove that these species are available and obtain their geographical distribution across the continental shelve,” the NaFAA boss added.
The Liberian Fisheries Director General who expressed optimism about the positive outcome of the fish stock assessment, revealed that following the research the fisheries authority will obtain the net worth of Liberia’s marine resources at which time the ocean will be quantified thus giving its overall value.
Speaking on the social impact of the stock assessment would have after its conduct across Liberian waters, the Liberian Fisheries DG noted that there will be increased job opportunities through foreign investment following the conduct of the stock assessment.
Additionally, she mentioned that “if Liberia is to attract foreign investment it will create more jobs the investors will build canaries, fish mills, as it is in Dakar and other fisheries nations in Africa and the world”
She maintained that the outcome of the fish stock assessment would put Liberia on par with other fisheries nations in Africa and the world.
At the same time, the Senior Research Officer/Scientist of the Oceanographic Research Center of Dakar- Senegal (CRODT), Abdoulaye Sarre’ expressed delight in their presence after two years of technical arrangements to conduct scientific research across Liberian waters so as to develop a management plan that would governor the fisheries sector.
Mr. Sarre’ who recounted the number of countries in Africa where they have conducted successful fish stock assessments promised that they would delivered on the results the Liberian government needs to open the sector.
Also making remarks at the commissioning ceremony was the World Bank task team leader and senior environmental specialist Mr. Shafick Hoossein, whos said the Bank was delighted to witnessed the commissioning of the vessel to conduct fish stock assessment in Liberia.
Mr. Hoosein said the fish stock assessment is a prove that the World Bank sponsored fisheries project will leave a mark in the Liberian fisheries sector upon its completion., according to a NaFAA press release signed by Communications and Media Services Director, Lewis E.B. Konoe.