The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has signed a partnership agreement with the Senegalese Institute for Agricultural Research and the Center for Oceanographic Research (ISRA/CRODT) to carry out a stock assessment of the fishing sector .
The fish stock assessment agreement between the two countries was signed this weekend virtually in Dakar and Monrovia respectively.
NaFAA boss Emma Glassco signed on behalf of the Government of Liberia, while ISRA/CRODT Director General Dr. Momar Talla Seck signed on behalf of the Senegalese government.
The objective of conducting a comprehensive stock assessment in the territorial waters of the country is to determine the commercial viability of the fishing sector, to map the fishing zone/hot biodiversity zone in its ocean space and to identify the quantity and commercial value per individual fish specified.
This research activity, sponsored by the World Bank, is to be conducted every two years over five years to sustainably use and manage Liberia’s ocean resources in line with United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14 (UN SDG 14) .
The scientific information gathered from this research will help inform the Fisheries Department’s decision to reopen a viable commercial fishing sector towards economic growth for the country to attract new private sector investment, both domestic and international.
Some investment opportunities will include the establishment of fish canneries, fish processors, seafood processing and canning, massive export of unique species and excess availability of fresh fish in the local market , among others.
NaFAA Glassco said, “This cooperation relates to the bilateral cooperation between Liberia and Senegal signed in 2019 and is in accordance with the provision of the Memorandum of Understanding.”
Ms. Glassco noted that Article 15 of the protocol states that “all parties shall conduct a program of scientific research, deepen their relations at their national research institutions and establish scientific cooperation protocols to support them in their operating policy”. and sustainable management of marine resources”.
The operations of the Senegalese scientific research vessel will soon begin in early July 2022 to conduct the studies in the territorial waters of Liberia.
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