By: Akoi M. Baysah, Jr.
Liberia has taken a major step toward transforming its fisheries sector, with delegates from more than 20 countries adopting a forward-looking communiqué at the end of the National Fisheries Investment Conference Liberia 2026 organized by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, (NaFAA).
The two-day conference, held at the Farmington Hotel, brought together government officials, investors, development partners, researchers, and civil society actors under the theme “Unlocking the Blue Horizon: The Future of Fisheries and the Blue Economy.”
Participants underscored the critical role of fisheries and the broader blue economy in driving economic growth, strengthening food security, and creating sustainable livelihoods in Liberia.
However, the conference also highlighted long-standing challenges, including weak fisheries data systems, institutional capacity gaps, limited enforcement, and insufficient investment frameworks.
In the communiqué adopted at the close of the conference, delegates called for urgent reforms to modernize the sector. Central among the recommendations is the need to invest in robust data systems and digital monitoring tools to support evidence-based decision-making and real-time oversight.
The conference further emphasized strengthening scientific collaboration among national, regional, and international institutions to boost research capacity and innovation.
Delegates also recommended the deployment of satellite monitoring technologies to curb illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing activities while safeguarding Liberia’s marine resources.
On investment priorities, participants identified aquaculture expansion, local fish feed production, and the development of critical infrastructure, including cold storage systems, fish processing facilities, and landing sites, as essential to unlocking value across the fisheries value chain.
The communiqué also stressed the importance of adopting circular economy approaches aimed at improving sustainability, reducing waste, and easing pressure on wild fish stocks.
Financing the sector emerged as a key pillar of the discussions, with delegates highlighting innovative mechanisms such as sovereign Blue Bonds, credit guarantee schemes, and fiscal protection measures for small-scale fisheries actors.
According to the conference, unlocking sustainable financing could accelerate job creation, boost GDP growth, and strengthen Liberia’s industrial base.
The gathering issued a strong call to action to the Government of Liberia to increase budgetary allocations to the fisheries sector and operationalize a comprehensive National Blue Economy Strategy within the next 12 months.
It also urged the government to strengthen the technical capacity of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and enact enabling legislation to support public-private partnerships.
Development partners and international organizations were encouraged to provide sustained technical and financial support, including assistance in the development and issuance of a sovereign Blue Bond.
Meanwhile, the private sector was urged to invest in aquaculture, fish processing, and key infrastructure to drive innovation and growth.
Academic and research institutions were also called upon to expand fisheries and blue economy education and collaborate more closely with government and industry in generating data and informing policy decisions.
Civil society organizations and fishing communities were encouraged to promote sustainable fishing practices and actively participate in governance processes.
In their closing declaration, delegates reaffirmed their collective commitment to building a resilient and sustainably managed blue economy in Liberia, emphasizing the need for measurable and time-bound actions.
The communiqué was formally adopted on March 31, 2026, marking what stakeholders describe as a significant milestone in Liberia’s efforts to harness the full potential of its marine resources.
