Authorities of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority have ended a two-day intensive engagements with the fishing communities, the fishing Communities in Montserrado and Bomi Counties have agreed to have a modern “semi-industrial port” on Popo Beach in the Monrovia suburb of Bushrod Island, the NaFAA has said.
NaFAA’s Director General, Madam Emma Glassco said the “semi industrial Port” is to be used by fishermen in both counties.
The two-day engagement with the fishing community was intended to establish the Collaborative Management Authority (CMA) within the nine fishing communities in Montserrado and Bomi Counties, something the Fishermen agreed to complied with, a press release from the NaFAA said over the weekend.
The establishment of the local fishing organization in Montserrado and Bomi to work collaboratively with the NaFAA will be the second in Liberia , with Grand Cape Mount County being the first , following with a huge world Bank financed CMA project.
This is said to have followed weeks of prior interactions with the leadership of each of the nine fishing communities in Montserrado and Bomi Counties by group of technicians from NaFAA’s technical office known as the advance team.
It was headed by Andrew Sumo and Jeremiah Wanplu, the top management on November 2-3, 2018 led by Director General Mrs. Emma Metieh Glasco, who came face-to-face with fishermen, owners of canoes, huge community Residents and fish mongers, among others.
The NaFAA’s team traveling on a float took off last Friday at the start of the two-day jamboree from its Freeport office through via town on the Bushrod Island through the commercial hub of Water side to West Point where “NaFAA’s delegation march through the principle street of the Township of West Pont along the beaches.
They waved and spread messages to throughout the fishing communities to the Residents on how to avoid illegal fishing, pay their annual fishing fees to NaFAA to legitimately fish in Liberian waters so as to enable government generate revenue from the fisheries sector.
While in West point, the Director General of NaFAA, Madam Glassco and visited the offices of the Commissioners of West Point and expressed delight in the level of cooperation NaFAA advance team received from all the two fishing groups in West Poin, “the Kru and Fanti fishermen” during the past three weeks of interactions.
Madam Glassco expressed enthusiasm about the collaboration between her office and West Point Fishing Community and said all the fishing communities in Liberia stand to immensely benefit from the new fisheries initiatives being organized by the CDC led government .
The NaFAA Boss noted that her management has gotten the full support of the Armed forces of Liberia and the National Police to ensure straight compliance of all fishermen in both Bomi and Montserrado Counties.
Among others things, Madam Glassco promised that the construction of fishing port on Popo Beach will commence shortly and also Japanese Company Yamaha company will shortly manufacturing motorized boats in Liberia to be used by local fishermen.
Responding, Commissioner William C, Wea assured the NaFAA Boss that the people of the Township of West including all fishermen will fully comply with all the fisheries regulations to enable government general more revenue from the sector to enhance growth and development across all the fishing communities.
Speaking further, Commissioner Wea said his office has had prior meetings with NaFAA’s advance team and remains committed to ensuring that madam Glassco and team dreams of transforming the fisheries sector is achieved through the Core Management Association.
Madam Glassco and delegation also toured several other fishing communities in Montserrado including Bernard Beach, ELWA Beach and King Gray Beach were the fishing folks expressed delight in NaFAA coastal reform plan.
The Community Residents who expressed surprise over the presence of the top level management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority NaFAA and all of its staff in their communities.
She, said unlike the past administration, fishing folks were seen trooping at the office of the Bureau of National Fisheries but now is the opposite.
One Resident Ma Ester Nagbe in West Point noted that “even their boss lady is walking from beach to beach under the sun talking to us and sitting and shaking hands with everyone.”
She mentioned. At the same time some of the Residents indicated that “the strategies being employed by this administration shows they are prepared to bring about changes in the fisheries sector and at the same improve all the lives of people living in the fishing communities.
Another Resident Johnson Dee said “these NaFAA people have a realistic plan to transform the beaches in Liberia”.
The tour by NaFAA to positively impart the fishing communities was extended to other areas on Saturday November 3, 2018 including the famous Popo Beach and Kparkor beach where a crowd of fishing folks gathered to meet with Madam Glassco and team.
Community Dwellers were entertained by Angel Michael comedian group which created laughter and fun for the audience and Small Town International Inc. which sang live NaFAA CMA songs .
However, despite NaFAA’s Management plan to have all to have all the fishermen land at a single fishing port, some of the fishermen have expressed reservations over such plan. Some in the King Gray, ELWA and Kparkor Communities mentioned that the distance will be far for them.
In a rather quick response, Madam Glassco noted that government will provide motorized boats to all fishermen which will make it more easer to enable them travel long distances, increase their catch.
She said it will at the same time enable them earn more money from their catch as compare to their current status where they are unable to reach the six nautical mile provided by government.
Meanwhile, all of the fishing Communities in Montserrado and Bomi Counties are in full readiness for the planned CMA elections scheduled for this Friday November 9, 2018 at the Monrovia City.