The Director General of the National Fishery and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma Metieh Glassco, has disclosed that Liberia is to shortly conduct its first ever comprehensive independent national fishery stock assessment.
Independent assessments conducted on the Liberian fish stock up to date have been done on a regional level by international partners, usually for a few days and on a few species of concern within the region.
An independent national stock assessment will provide a means of obtaining a strong, independent national fishery data set to verify regional stock survey data as well as form a strong basis for maximizing the socio-economic potential of the fishery resources.
According to a NaFAA press release, the first independent stock assessment, which will result to an economic boost to the fishery sector, will be implemented as a result of a negotiation with the government of the Republic of Guinea.
Glassco mentioned that the Guinean government has officially agreed to conduct the comprehensive independent national fishery stock assessment in the Liberian waters.
Making the disclosure over the weekend in Marshall City, lower Margibi County, Glassco said, “Over the years there has existed a critical need for an independent national fishery stock assessment in the Liberian waters so as to gather scientific data over the actual biomass of the fishery stock in the Liberian waters”.
Glassco furthered stated that the Guinean government, in a communication to Liberia, mentioned that “they have carefully analyzed Liberia’s request for technical cooperation and assured that they have the capability to accomplish said request for fish stock assessment in Liberia”.
The Liberian Fishery Director General said Guinea’s National Center for Fishery Science of Boussoura is now proposing that Liberia develops a possible partnership agreement between the two countries in charge of marine resources.
She said they are now proposing that Liberia, through NaFAA, establishes a contract for the various campaigns mentioned in its correspondence and, at the same time, the Guinean government is planning to dispatch a delegation to Liberia to hold discussion with NaFAA’s leadership to schedule for the execution of the project.
Glassco recalled that the last regional fish stock assessment was conducted in 2019 as this will be the first historic national independent stock assessment to be conducted in Liberian waters. She maintained that the pending stock assessment will lead to several opportunities for investment in the fishery sector.
Glassco noted that the pending research will provide the possibilities for fishery investment, attract several potential fishery investors to Liberia and lead to the creation of jobs for many Liberians.
The NaFAA boss said, “Liberians, mainly seafarers who have been trained internationally, will be deployed on several European and other international fishing vessels that would apply for investment and, at the same time, increase fish and fish products across Liberian markets.”
The fisheries research will also create the possibilities for other investors to establish and operate processing plants within fishing communities, which would also lead to job creation in those communities and lead to export of the fish products.