Southeastern Liberia-The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) hasreceived full endorsement from Authorities of Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Rivercess, and Grand Bassa Counties to ensure the enforcement of fisheries policy as it relates to revenue collection from the Sector, a statement from NaFAA says.
Artisanal Fishermen are expected at to begin their annual registration of their canoes so as to obtain their licenses to fish from Cape Mount to Cape Palmas and as well as cold storage operators obtaining their certificates to operate .
Speaking during a recent tour of Maryland, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Rivercess and Grand Bassa Counties, local government officials in those counties commended NaFAA management for the level of transformation taking place in the sector.
The Superintendents of those Counties promised to work collaboratively with NaFAA Management to ensure success in the fisheries sector within their various counties.
Aside from the superintendents, the local police, immigration, Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency county commanders who formed part of the meetings pledged their support to NaFAA to ensure the full enforcement of the fisheries regulations. NaFAA team also interacted with Managers of the ports of Maryland and Sinoe Counties.
The Managers of the Ports of Maryland and Sinoe Counties pledged to work closely with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority to ensure the collection of revenue from the fisheries sector.
Mr. William Wallace, Manager of the Port Harper and Emmet Blayee the financial manager of the port Greenville pledged to provide a space within their ports to hold illegal fishing vessels including canoes.
Superintendents that interacted with NaFAA delegation were George Pratt of Maryland, Lee Nagbe Chea of Sinoe, J. Bismark Karbiah of Rivercess through a proxy Eric G. Peterson Special Assistant to the office of the Superintendent, Doris N. Yaltun Superintendent of Grand Kru and Flee Glee Development Superintendent of Grand Bassa.
At the same time, NaFAA team also held discussions with fishermen and their officials from across all the fishing communities in south east of Liberia.
The NaFAA team headed by the Communications Manager Journalist Lewis Konoe is expected to travel to other parts of Liberia including Rivergee Grand Gedeh , Nimba, Gbarpolu, Bomi,, Cape Mount Lofa, Bong and Margibi Counties to hold discussions with local authorities there on the role and impact of NaFAA in the Liberian Fisheries sector.
The full endorsement of those local government officials is cardinal to the operations of NaFAA and would lead to increment in the collection revenue from the fisheries sector particularly from the Artisanal fishermen and cold storage operators across Liberia.
Meanwhile, National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) is the entity of government responsible for the management of fisheries and Aquaculture activities, as well as to promote the conservation, management and sustainable use of the fisheries and aquaculture resources in Liberia
Consistent with its responsibilities to raise revenue through fees and others means as enshrined in the Act creating the entity, all those fishing in Liberian waters are required by law to pay their annual fishing license fees; while, all Cold storage operators are required by law to pay certification fees and obtain Certificate of Operations before proceeding any further.
Towards this end, the management of NaFAA has embarked on a robust National Awareness campaign aimed at informing fisheries stakeholders of their requirements to enable full compliance of the New Fisheries Regulations, 2010.
The tour in the South East lasted for a period of 17 days, from January 7, to 22, 2019.