Maryland County Fishermen and Fishmongers Association (FFA) has expressed concerns over the illegal intrusion by Ivoirian’s fishermen into Liberia’s territorial waters.
In a statement presented to the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA’s) Director, Emma Glasco recently, the group said they have concerns that are obstructing their fishing careers.
According to Alfred Nah, FFA’s Head did cite a continuous illegal that fishing in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties by fishermen from Ivory Coast, is a serious threat to their safety on the Atlantic Ocean.
He warned that they just want to continuously meet the intruders on top of the water and then anything may likely happen.
Nah accused the Ivoirians’ fishermen of using sophisticated tools that fishermen in Liberia have no access to, and as such, they extract the country’s resources that the unborn generations should benefit from.
He has, at the same time, accuse some staff of the NaFAA fish tax collection bureau of going to neighboring Ivory Coast to unlawfully or illegally register and issue Liberian licenses to non-Liberian fishermen who have damaged their parts of the ocean.
“Those of whom they register in Ivory Coast come to Liberia, especially Maryland County, and fish fearlessly or courageously without being question because of documents given to them,” Nah said.
At the same time, the local fish groups have frown on the act of Liberian fish being market in neighboring country when they are the one paying high taxes to government.
FFA has recommended that government assigns coast guards to monitor the Ivory Coast borderline in Maryland and Grand Kru Counties, and that heads of fishing cooperatives should be in the know of the registration of any new fisherman or fish group in the counties before being allowed to fish.
NaFAA boss, Emma Glasco promised to take a 10-member delegation along with her while returning to Monrovia to enable them put their grievance before the Ministry of Defense for redress.
She added that the intent of the tour to coastal areas is to reach out to fish communities and hear what their challenges are, so that with the help of government and partners the NaFAA could respond to the needs of the fish folks.
Glasco disclosed that as part of government’s continuous contributions to the fish sector, they have handed over 412 bundle of various type of thread fish net valued over US$61,800 to fish folks, she stated that more will be done in the future.
