PHOTO: DG Emma Glassco Speaking At The Grand Nets Exchange Program west point fishing community central Monrovia, Thursday May 13, 2021
The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has stressed that the protection of ‘Liberia marine resources remain a significant pillar in maintaining a sustainable fisheries sector,’ a press release from NaFAA said on Saturday.
Speaking recently at the official launch of NaFAA’s Net Exchange program held in the Township of West Point, Director General Emma Metieh Glassco pointed out that NaFAA has adopted an approach to ensure that fish is available at all times, ‘for our generation today and the ones unborn’. This, Hon Glassco says will provide a cycle of socioeconomic intervention for the people dwelling in fishing communities.
Madam Glassco noted that “as a Government institution, NaFAA remains committed to ensuring that the people of Liberia benefit from their fisheries resources. Providing an over view of the Nets Exchange program under the CDC led government, Madam Glassco noted that “today marks a major achievement of a milestone in ensuring that we as government live up to our social contract with the people, by providing interventions and opportunities to improve their lives.
The NaFAA Fisheries Expert disclosed that government’s efforts are to guarantee that everything counts; the availability of fish resources, the fishing methods, the fishing gears, the processing, handing and distribution as well as the quality of fish that end up in the plates.
Madam Glassco mentioned that Government whole concern is the economic value chain for human development, putting monies in the pockets of its people to meet their basic needs and also addressing food security for the larger population. This the NaFAA Boss indicated that the approach remains to ensure sustainable fishing and reduction in post-harvest losses and spoilage.
She said in order to meet these objectives, the Government of Liberia, is well engaged with her partners to take action in keeping with international best practices, pointing out that today, the CDC led government is beginning several interventions in promoting sustainable, environmental friendly fishing and improved fish handling and processing techniques.
First Lady Clar Marine Weah is between the World Bank Country Manager and NaFAA DG who is followed left by the EU Ambassador as the UN Country Boss is on the right meanwhile, LAFA Secretary Theresa Bayon holds the Popo Beach land Document presented to her by the first Lady of Liberia
With funding from the World Bank, Madam Glassco declared government through NaFAA has brought in Liberia a huge consignment of Multifilament Nets or thread Nets to initiate the process of Nets Exchange for local fishermen. “This is one of the activities of the World Bank sponsored project, “Liberia Sustainable Management Fisheries Project” the NaFAA Fisheries Experts stated.
She said that the rationale is to ensure that the destructive rubber nets or the monofilament nets which has over the years affected the marine ecosystem, causing environmental degradation as well as endangering other aquatic species, such as, sea turtle, sea horses and juvenile fish, through ingestion of this nets as food or by ghost fishing, to be replace with the internationally certified multifilament or thread net, in keeping with the New Fisheries Law of Liberia and international best practice.
Today, said she said “we are here to kick off this process as we anticipate that our fisher folks will give us their full support as was expressed during our just ended tour and awareness, let me assure you our fisher folks, that we as a government shall ensure a smooth and convenient transition considering all of the concerns raised during our just ended community engagement”.
Madam Glassco declared that “let it be known that the thread nets will be distributed to fishing communities in the nine coastal counties of Liberia, starting with Montserrado. She assured that about 20-30% of Liberia’s total fisheries workforce will be impacted through the first phase of this distribution scheme. She clarified that “it remains a voluntary process as we work with our fisher folks and other government functionaries to ensure a smooth transition to the new certified nets’.
World Bank Liberia’s Country Manager, Dr. Khwima Nthara on the left with NaFAA’s Deputy Director General for Administration in on the right while Deputy Director General for Technical Services William is in the middle unveiling the thread nets in West Point Fishing Community.
Speaking of the compliance of all fisherfolks across the nine coastal Counties in Liberia, Madam Glassco pleaded, “we humbly appeal to our fishermen, who are currently using the rubber nets or the monofilament nets to cooperate with our teams in their communities and turn over all their rubber nets to NaFAA. ‘One rubber net for One Thread net, -Free of Charge’ NaFAA Boss mentioned.
The NaFAA DG said government through the Fisheries Authority is pleased to inform the fishing communities that, as it maximize our efforts to ensure sustainable fishing, NaFAA is also committed to harnessing the full economic value of the products from fishing, that is reducing post-harvest loss/ fish spoilage and improving quality, by introducing modern storage equipment, improved smoking techniques, through the establishment of smoke ovens as well as upgrading the sanitary process with regards to fish handling, processing and distribution of fish products.