By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
The Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), James Dorbor Jallah, has described the launch of Liberia’s Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) as a “milestone step” that will transform fisheries governance, strengthen transparency, and increase national revenue.
Serving as chief launcher on Friday, at the official launch of FIMS in Monrovia, Jallah said the new digital platform will address longstanding gaps in the fisheries sector, including weak data systems, manual licensing processes, and poor monitoring that have enabled illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
“Today, we turn the page. The launch of FIMS signals that Liberia is serious about protecting its marine wealth, improving compliance, and ensuring that the benefits of our fisheries are accounted for, reported, and reinvested into our economy,” Jallah stated.
According to him, the system is not only a fisheries management tool but also a revenue governance instrument that will enable the LRA to better track vessel licensing, catch volumes, export values, and compliance.
The LRA Commissioner General highlighted that with real, time data, Liberia will be able to: accurately assess and collect fisheries revenues; Minimize revenue leakages by linking FIMS with the tax administration system; Align fisheries fees with global market realities; and Strengthen cross-agency enforcement with the Coast Guard, Customs, and the Port Authority.
Indicating further that the “Fisheries are not just about fish, they are about jobs, nutrition, trade, and national wealth,” adding that the new system would strengthen transparency, attract investment, and align with Liberia’s international obligations.
According to him, the platform will also integrate scientific data for sustainable stock management and generate analytics to guide both fisheries policy and national revenue planning while citing examples from Namibia and Ghana, where similar systems boosted revenue and curbed illegal fishing.
Jallah said Liberia is now part of a “progressive club” of nations using data-driven approaches to protect marine wealth and at the same time recommended full interagency integration, capacity building, stakeholder sensitization, data-driven policy formulation, regional cooperation, and sustainable financing to ensure the system’s long-term success.
The LRA Commissioner General has reaffirmed the LRA’s commitment to work with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), development partners, and fishing communities to ensure that “every vessel, every catch, and every transaction is recorded, reported, and rewarded for the benefit of all Liberians.”
The Fisheries Information Management System has been made possible by NAFAA through the support of the World Bank.
Making remarks, on behalf of the World Bank Liberia, Wole Afuye, World Bank Senior Procurement Specialist termed the launch as a big step towards the Liberia Fishery system.
Mr. Afuye said the system will enhance both the fisheries and the government services and improve the livelihood with quicker paper license renewal and procurement.
Afuye has assured NAFAA of ensuring efficiency at the county centers, call centers at all county levels enhancing [paper safety and through mobile money cutting cost.
