A recent operation conducted by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) resulted in the arrest of eight migrant fishermen for engaging in unauthorized fishing activities in Liberian waters.
The joint security team intercepted the illegal fishers off the coast of Harper City, Maryland County, following reports from local fishermen about foreign vessels repeatedly encroaching on Liberian territorial waters.
NaFAA’s Associate Director for Marine Fisheries, Anthony A. Yokie, revealed that the agency received information from concerned local fishermen regarding the presence of foreign nationals conducting fishing operations within Liberian waters.
“Our local fishermen complained to us about the foreign fishermen are always embarrassing them on the sea,” Yokie said. “This is how we informed the joint security team about the situation — eventually making plans to reach out and have them arrested.”
Prompted by these reports, a joint security team was mobilized to apprehend the unauthorized fishermen. During the operation near the Cavalla Karblaken border, the illegal fishermen, flying flags from Liberia, Ghana, and Ivory Coast, were found without the required legal documentation.
Yokie, who was on a mission from headquarters in Monrovia to the Southeast, said in was in that part of the country to ensure compliance with the fisheries sector and that the marine environment is being sustainably managed.
“Prior to my arrival, we have been receiving several complaints that there are a lot of foreign fishermen from different countries that are invading our water,” he said.
“So when I came to Maryland I met with the task force team and the entire Kru and Fanti Fishing Community and that was the complaint that I received several times. So, based on that, the task force team that was set up here by the director general came to me and said that the guys are on the water and they want to go arrest them and they only needed a backup. I give them the go ahead with support from the joint security and they went and arrested this particular vessel that came from the Ivorian City of San-Pedro.”
The team confiscated the catch, consisting of various fish species, grippers, cassava fish, red herring and others, and was auctioned to local vendors, generating a value of L$60,000.00.
The auction, which is in accordance with Liberian Maritime law, indicates that any illegal fish that is arrested shall be auctioned and the money generated will be deposited in government revenue.
Yokie said the illegal migrant fishermen who are residents of San-Pedro, Ivory Coast, were killing marine species in Liberian waters with their forty-horsepower machine without any legal document.
He also said the eight foreigners are currently in the custody of the Liberia Immigration officers and will be penalized for illegal fishing.
The detained foreign fishermen, hailing from Ghana and Ivory Coast and currently in the custody of Liberian Immigration officers, will face penalties for engaging in illegal fishing activities. Under Liberian Maritime law, any unlawfully caught fish is subject to auction, with proceeds directed to government revenue.
Yokie emphasized NaFAA’s commitment to enforcing compliance within the fisheries sector and promoting sustainable management of the marine environment. He highlighted the agency’s efforts to address the influx of foreign fishermen in Liberian waters and reiterated the importance of safeguarding the country’s aquatic resources.
Despite challenges in combating illegal fishing, NaFAA remains dedicated to protecting Liberia’s marine biodiversity.