The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority is commending the Welsh Government of the United Kingdom for donating a fisheries patrol vessel to Liberia.
The Fisheries patrol vessel, the Pride of Wales, arrived on the 26th of April 2019, and its situated at the Freeport of Monrovia, according to a NaFAA press release issued in Monrovia on Sunday.
The vessel is intended to boast government’s effort towards curbing illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing activities on the Liberian Territorial Waters, the release says.
The Pride of Wales (FPV Aegis) which was constructed in 1996, has a Twin Caterpillar 3408 700 horsepower (hp) diesel engines, consumes 100/120 litre per hour at 17 Knots, has a 500-liter fresh water tank and holds 4000 liters of fuel in two tanks.
It has an anchor with 60m chain, navigation equipment including compass and GPS, satellite phone, Furuno Echo Sounder, Koden Radar, search light with remote control, navigation lights and four lifebuoys.
Speaking upon the arrival of the much anticipated patrol vessel, Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco, mentioned that the “Liberian government is grateful to the people of Welsh for such a generous donation”, and will collaborate with the Liberian Coast Guard to use it as a vital tool to combat illegal fishing in the Liberian territorial waters.
“We are currently working on plans with our development partners to ensure the vessel will be maintained and operated to best standards, and to ensure that it serves to protect our valuable fisheries resources towards long term sustainable economic goals,” the NaFAA boss said
Meanwhile, Madam Glassco has disclosed that the World Bank facilitated the vessel donation and transportation to Liberia, for which the Government remains grateful.
According to a NaFAA Press Release, Madam Glassco lamented that Liberia is losing huge amount of revenue on a daily basis from illegal fishing activities in Liberian Waters.
She named Maryland, Sinoe, Rivercess, Grand Kru and Grand Bassa Counties in the Southeast of Liberia as places where illegal fishing activities are prevalent causing tremendous loss to Liberia.
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority’s Boss noted that with the “latest, timely and generous donation of the fisheries patrol vessel by the Welsh government of the United Kingdom, Liberia is now in the position to increase its coastal resource security thus resulting to increased revenue from the fisheries sector.
She said: “this donation has place Liberia in the position to get on par with other fishing nations and will positively impact the National budget.”