By Bill W. Cooper
The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), Emma M. Glassco has announced an ambitious plan to explore possibilities of increasing the membership of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) from six to ten.
She made the disclosure on Friday, December 13, 2024, while assuming the Chairmanship of the FCWC regional fisheries body during the Ministerial session which was attended by the President Joseph Boakai and entourage.
DG Glassco asserted, “Under Liberia’s Chairmanship, I do have an ambitious plan of exploring possibilities of increasing FCWC member states from six to ten and I am confident this goal is attainable.”
Madam Glassco who took over from the outgoing chairperson Mavis Hawa Koomsom, Ghanaian former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, stated that her greatest vision as Chair of FCWC is to foster and facilitate inter-regional trade among members states, particularly Liberia which she said has an emerging fisheries sector with untapped opportunities in captured fisheries and Aquaculture development.
The new Fisheries Chair also disclosed plans to strengthen bilateral cooperation through shared and technical experiences and harmonized policies on license regimes, establish regional protocols for negotiating Sustainable Fisheries Access Partnership Agreements with the European Union, and source donor support that benefits all member states of FCWC.
Reflecting on the theme of the regional fisheries conference “Promoting Decent Work and Strengthening Maritime and Ecosystem Resilience for the Sustainability of the Fisheries Sector,” she mentioned that fishing is associated with very high risks and is considered one of the world’s most dangerous jobs.
She added that responsible Coastal, Flag, and Port States must uphold the rules and treaties they are party to and ensure that the International Labor Organization (ILO) standards are fully implemented to safeguard local seafarers.
Officially launching the conference, President Joseph Boakai emphasized Liberia’s commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable management of marine resources, describing the Conference as a vital platform to strengthen collective efforts in addressing issues such as illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, marine pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices.
He said, “The health of our marine ecosystems directly impacts the prosperity and stability of our nations. So, today, as we adopt the Monrovia Declaration, we reaffirm our shared commitment to regional cooperation and sustainable fisheries management.”
The President also lauded the FCWC for its efforts to advance regional collaboration, acknowledging the critical role of development partners such as the World Bank, European Union, FAO, SIDA, and JICA.
President Boakai, has at the same time called for urgent action to address challenges such as climate change, marine pollution, and unsustainable fishing practices, stressing that collective efforts and shared expertise are essential.
“These challenges are daunting but not insurmountable. Together, we can transform our fisheries sector into a cornerstone of economic growth and sustainable development for our region,” Boakai asserted.
President Boakai added by urging participants, “Let us leave this Conference with renewed determination, recognizing the responsibility we share to safeguard the future of our fisheries for generations to come.”
Meanwhile, During the Ministerial meeting in Congo Town, the Ministers and Fisheries Technicians from Member States adopted and signed the Monrovia Declaration which would ensure joint fisheries operations such as joint fisheries patrols and joint closed fishing seasons among other technical issues.
The 15th Ministerial session which climaxes the three days of International Fisheries discussions on the development of fisheries within the region, brought together several dignitaries from all member states of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). It was announced that Nigeria will be the host of the 16th Ministerial Conference.
