LIBERIA ENGAGEMENT WITH FAO ON AQUACULTURE

Liberia engagement with FAO on aquaculture. The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) in Liberia has held a successful bilateral engagement with Manuel Barange, Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations in Rome, Italy. The interaction was held during the Committee on Fisheries, 36th Session (COFI 36), at FAO headquarters in the Canada room.

According to NaFAA, the recent bilateral meeting was specifically centred on developing aquaculture (fish farming) in Liberia. The FAO has committed to direct its attention to Aquaculture development in Liberia with regard to a partnership in the fisheries sector, with a specific focus on strengthening Liberia’s legal regime and building technical capacity, which will lead to attracting investments to the Fisheries sector.

Furthermore, the FAO’s involvement in the Liberian Aquaculture sector will also lead to transitioning from a subsistence fish farming program to a more sustainable, commercially viable aquaculture sector. This will create job opportunities, have a direct impact on livelihoods, strengthen food security, and provide a huge fresh fish supply on the local markets. The focus will be placed on two main species: tilapia and catfish.

The Director of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Madam Emma Metieh Glassco, during a discussion with the Assistant Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) of the United Nations, termed Aquaculture the future of Liberia’s fisheries sector.

At the same time, FAO will also ensure women’s participation in Aquaculture through capacity building to enable them to produce fish feed to enhance aquaculture development in Liberia.

Madam Glassco, who was excited about the engagement with the FAO Assistant Director-General, pointed out that considering the growing demand for wild capture fisheries, which are also affected by increasing decline due to factors such as adverse climatic conditions, Aquaculture development with FAO Technical support will yield positive transformation across the country.

Meanwhile, Liberia, through the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, will shortly send the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) an official request that will lead to the signing of a partnership agreement for its intervention in the Aquaculture sector.

Under the pending technical agreement, there will also be a technical exchange programme between countries, including Egypt, which has progressive African aquaculture development programmes

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