Liberia: NaFAA Signs MoU with Eight Collaborative Management Associations in Six Coastal Counties - FrontPageAfrica
by Francis G. Boayue · FrontPageAfricaShare
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Monrovia—The Liberia National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with eight Collaborative Management Associations (CMAs) across six coastal counties.
By: Francis G. Boayue
The agreement marks a major milestone in the effort to promote sustainable fisheries management in Liberia, in collaboration with the European Union-funded Communities for Fisheries project.
The MoU signing, held on Friday, October 4, 2024, at NaFAA’s headquarters on Bushrod Island, solidified the establishment of seven new CMAs in four coastal counties: Grand Kru, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, and Margibi, alongside an additional CMA established by NaFAA in 2017.
The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of the European Union Delegation to Liberia, NaFAA officials, and the EU-funded Communities for Fisheries project team.
The MoU is the result of a collective effort by key fisheries stakeholders, with the support of the European Union-funded Communities for Fisheries project. It outlines the collaboration between NaFAA and the CMAs to manage Liberia’s small-scale fisheries sector sustainably.
The partnership includes the enforcement of fisheries regulations, capacity building, financing, research, and community-based monitoring and surveillance.
The agreement aims to ensure the sustainable livelihoods of over 33,000 fishers, whose incomes are under threat from illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, overfishing, and climate change.
Speaking at the event, William Y. Boeh, NaFAA’s Deputy Director General for Technical Services, emphasized the critical role of CMAs in the sector.
“The CMAs are pivotal in assisting the government through NaFAA to combat illegal fishing and support compliance and enforcement efforts, including the collection of fishing license fees,” DDG Boeh stated.
He further disclosed that NaFAA is committed to allocating 30% of revenue collected from compliance and enforcement exercises to support the operations of the CMAs. Boeh also urged the European Union to extend financial support to establish CMAs in Rivercess and Maryland Counties, to further reduce illegal fishing activities.
Representing the European Union at the ceremony, Madam Montse Pantaleoni, Green Economy Team Leader, announced the imminent launch of a new fisheries and agriculture project aimed at strengthening value chains across Liberia.
She reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to working with NaFAA and the Ministry of Agriculture to drive transformation in the fisheries and agriculture sectors.
For his part, EJF Program Officer, Augustine Fayiah, lauded the MoU signing as a testament to NaFAA’s commitment to improving the fisheries sector.
“This gathering demonstrates NaFAA’s readiness to not only sign agreements but to actively support the CMAs in fulfilling their responsibilities,” Mr. Fayiah noted.
He, however, admonished the CMA leadership to maintain their efforts in securing fishing communities and significantly reducing illegal fishing activities across Liberia’s coastal regions.