By: Domingo Dargbeh

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has officially committed to ensuring that CMAs are financially empowered and technically equipped to carry out their responsibilities in the various fishing communities.
Speaking at the signing ceremony over the weekend between NaFAA and the seven different Collaborative Management Associations (CMAs) at its Headquarters on Bushrod Island, the Deputy Director General for Technical Services, Hon. William Y. Boe, disclosed that the CMAs are pivotal to the fisheries sector.
Mr. Boe narrated that the CMAs were founded in 2022 to 2023 by the Environmental Justice Foundation under the EU-funded Communities for Fisheries Project in five coastal counties, including Grand Cape Mount, Margibi, Grand Bassa, Grand Kru, and Montserrado counties.
He further stated that the CMAs are there to assist the government through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority in the fight against Illegal, Unreported, and Unregulated fishing and also help NaFAA’s Compliance and Enforcement teams in the collection of fishing license fees.
“The Management of NaFAA is prepared to make 30% of revenue collected during the compliance and enforcement exercises available to the CMAs for their operations,” Mr. Boe said.
However, Mr. Boe called on both the European Union and other stakeholders to finance the establishment of CMAs in Rivercess and Maryland counties, as there is a need to have local fishing organizations in those two remaining counties to help reduce illegal fishing activities.
Representing the European Union during the CMAs MoU signing ceremony, the Green Economy Team Leader, Madam Montse Pantaleoni, disclosed that the EU is shortly to launch a new fisheries and agriculture project aimed at strengthening the value chain.
“The European Union is very certain that the new fisheries and agriculture project will lead to transformation across Liberia,” the EU representative said.
She further stated that the EU is prepared to work collectively with both the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) to enhance transformation in the two sectors.
At the same time, the Program Officer at the Environmental Justice Foundation, Mr. Augustine Fayiah, emphasized that the signing ceremony indicates that the Liberian Fisheries Authority is committed to ensuring tremendous improvement in the fisheries sector.
“By this gathering today, it shows that NaFAA is prepared to go beyond just the signing ceremony, but to live up to their commitment to ensure that CMAs are active in their responsibilities.”
Mr. Fayiah challenged the established CMA leadership to ensure that they continue their efforts to make sure that all of the fishing communities are secure and that illegal fishing activities are drastically reduced.