Monrovia, Liberia — November 24, 2025–The Government of Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), has officially commissioned the Sea King, the nation’s first Semi-Industrial Fiberglass Fishing Vessel—signaling a transformative step in the modernization of Liberia’s fisheries sector.
The ceremony, held at the Mesurado Pier, also featured the presentation of three of the 23 newly constructed fiberglass Kru and Fanti canoes designed to strengthen artisanal fishing across coastal communities.
NaFAA Acting Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr. described the event as “not just a milestone, but a national awakening,” underscoring Liberia’s renewed commitment to innovation, responsible marine governance, and economic growth. He emphasized that the commissioning reflects strong government leadership, deepened development cooperation, and the enduring resilience of coastal populations.
Mr. Saygbe highlighted a portfolio of ongoing reforms under the Government’s ARREST Agenda, including, the development of a 10-Year Strategic Plan (2026–2036), a forthcoming National Fisheries & Aquaculture Investment Plan, and a National Aquaculture Strategy to transition aquaculture to commercial scale.
Mr. Saygbe also outlined major achievements already underway including, Liberia’s first Semi-Industrial Fisheries Management Plan, a strengthened Monitoring, Control & Surveillance (MCS) system, Training of over 500 fish farmers nationwide, Launch of the National Aquaculture Database System and National Fishmongers Directory, Revitalization of the Fisheries Complex and establishment of a Department of Environment & Climate Change, Full activation of the Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS), reducing permit processing time to just 48 hours and Progress toward a US$26 million Industrial Fishing Port, expected to create 2,000–2,500 jobs
Mr. Saygbe further noted ongoing infrastructure investments through the OPEC Fund, World Bank, UN FAO, and Conservation International, including fish processing hubs, landing sites, a fisheries laboratory, and a climate-smart commercial fish farm.
Commenting more on the fishing vessel , Mr. Saygbe stated that “Built using advanced Glass Reinforced Plastic technology, the Sea King promises enhanced durability, safety, efficiency, and sustainability. It is poised to boost fish production, improve food security, and support responsible harvesting of Liberia’s marine resources”.
He said the vessel will be managed through a transparent Public–Private Partnership process. Dsiclosing how the 23 fiberglass canoes would reach out to the local fishing communities, Mr. Saygbe mentioned that those canoes will be allocated through a competitive program focusing on women fishmongers and small-scale entrepreneurs.