–Funding to Support Review of Fisheries Law, Fight Illegal Fishing, and Strengthen Governance
MOMBASA, KENYA – Liberia has secured a US$500,000 grant to support the modernization of its fisheries legal framework and strengthen transparency and accountability across the country’s fisheries sector, marking another significant milestone in ongoing efforts to improve ocean governance and combat illegal fishing.
The funding, secured through Oceans5, will support the review and modernization of Liberia’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Management and Development Law of 2019, according to the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA).
The grant emerged from partnerships and commitments established during the Third United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice, France, in 2025, and further strengthened during the 11th Our Ocean Conference held in Mombasa, Kenya, in 2026.
Enhancing Transparency and Accountability
The initiative, titled “Creating Greater Fisheries Transparency in Liberia,” will be implemented by the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) in collaboration with the Government of Liberia through NaFAA.
The project is designed to improve transparency, accountability, and governance within Liberia’s fisheries sector while strengthening the country’s ability to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) Fishing, a persistent challenge affecting marine resources and coastal economies across West Africa.
Officials say the project will help establish stronger monitoring and enforcement mechanisms while improving oversight of fishing activities within Liberia’s territorial waters.
Supporting International Standards
A central component of the initiative will focus on incorporating and implementing the principles of the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, which Liberia championed and endorsed during the United Nations Ocean Conference in Nice.
The legal review process will also support Liberia’s efforts to ratify the International Labour Organization (ILO) Work in Fishing Convention (C188), an international treaty that promotes safer working conditions and stronger labor protections for fishers.
The move is expected to strengthen labor standards within Liberia’s fisheries industry while ensuring greater protection for workers operating in the sector.
Advancing Fisheries Governance Reforms
The grant represents a major boost to Liberia’s ongoing fisheries governance reform agenda and reflects growing international confidence in the country’s commitment to sustainable ocean management.
By strengthening legal and regulatory frameworks, Liberia hopes to improve compliance, enforcement, transparency, and accountability throughout the fisheries value chain.
Sector experts note that improved fisheries governance is critical not only for protecting marine ecosystems but also for supporting food security, employment, and economic growth in coastal communities.
Pathway Toward Lifting EU Yellow Card
The initiative is also expected to contribute significantly to Liberia’s efforts to address concerns raised by the European Union’s fisheries governance framework.
For nearly nine years, Liberia has operated under an EU “Yellow Card” warning, a mechanism used by the European Union to identify countries requiring stronger action against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing.
Authorities believe the new project will help accelerate reforms needed to improve fisheries oversight and strengthen Liberia’s case for having the warning lifted.
NaFAA Boss Hails Milestone
Commenting on the grant, NaFAA Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr. described the initiative as a reflection of Liberia’s determination to build a transparent, sustainable, and responsible fisheries sector.
He emphasized that the reforms will help safeguard Liberia’s marine resources, promote fair labor practices, and generate long-term economic benefits for coastal communities and future generations.
The Director General noted that strengthening governance and transparency remains essential to ensuring that the country’s fisheries resources contribute meaningfully to national development while protecting the livelihoods of thousands of Liberians who depend on the sector.
Building a Sustainable Blue Economy
Liberia’s fisheries sector remains one of the country’s most important natural resource assets, supporting livelihoods, food production, and economic activity along the nation’s coastline.
With growing international attention on sustainable ocean management and the fight against illegal fishing, the newly secured grant is expected to provide critical support for Liberia’s efforts to modernize the sector and align its fisheries governance framework with international best practices.
As implementation begins, government officials and development partners hope the initiative will strengthen Liberia’s position as a leader in fisheries transparency and sustainable marine resource management in West Africa.
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