The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority of Liberia (NaFAA) has denied reports that the government of Liberia has issued 300 licenses to 300 Senegalese large fishing boats.
Few days ago popular radio talk show host Henry Costa asserted that 300 licenses have been issued to 300 hundred large boats, in Henry Costa Facebook post said Senegal is expected to harvest about 40.00 tones of fish from Liberia waters every year, he at the same time accused George Weah of giving finishing licenses to Russian and Chinese fishing vessels to deplete Liberia’s territorial waters.
speaking at the Ministry of Information Cultural Affairs and Tourism on Thursday January 31, 2019 in Monrovia, the Director General of NAFA Madam Emma Metieh-Glassco said Costa assertion of the said agreement was misleading.
According to Madam Emma Metieh-Glassco the Senegalese agreement has not been finalized while it is true that the Liberian government and the government of Senegal have signed an agreement but he agreement has not been attested by the Ministry of Finance and Development Planning and the Ministry of Justice. The NaFAA boss said if even the agreement is signed, it doesn’t mean that fishing licenses are automatically transferred but rather fishing vessels owners will have to file their applications in line with domestic and international standard and requirement.
The agreement according to NFAA Director General is meant to strengthen relations in the Fisheries and Aquaculture between Liberia and Senegal. She further disclosed that agreement is to last for 5 years and is subject to renewal.
Under the agreement, Artisanal boats from Senegal will be charged a flat rate of US$ 1000.00 per year, Semi-Industrial fishing Boats that are largely owned and operated by foreign fishermen will be charged at a flat rate of US1,500.00 per year while industrial vessels will be required to land in the country when the country fishing ports become operational.
She however assures the public that the Fisheries Authority is working with internal partners including Japan, Iceland and the World Bank to ensure that Liberia functional ports accommodates fishing boats to allow them to process catches for sale.
By: Emmanuel Y. Kortu
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