IPNews-Monrovia,Liberia-3 May 2018: The National Fisheries has shutdown six cold storages within the commercial district of Paynesville.
According to a release from the National Fisheries, the temporary closure of six cold storage facilities, including the famous Chinese Cold Storage in the Nee Zoe Community was is compliance with National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority’s regulations, which has been continuously violated by the owners of the facilities.
“ We found out that those facilities are using juvenile to carryout duties of the cold rooms and sales rotten fish, unhygienic environment and lack of safety gears for workers.” The release said.
The release also said, the joint inspection team which was by the Director General, Madam Emma Glassco, Friday, April 27, will continue until cold facilities are total in compliance with the policy of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority’s regulations.
Those cold storage affected temporarily as a result of the inspection exercise were the Chinese cold storage in Neezoe community, SCODI Liberia, and National Frozen Food all along the Gobachop market road, African ZHONG CHENG HAI, Mohamed Frozen Food, and KASSEM MOCHAWRAB Center.
‘The joint team discovered during the several hours of inspection that throughout Red Light Market and the Neezoe Community all of the cold storage were not part of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority data, lack proper safety gear for their workers, and were operating without licenses from NaFAA and the Ministry of Health.” The release said.
According to the release the Famous Chinese cold storage, it was discovered that they are operating in an unhygienic environment particularly offensive smell from the bathroom adjacent the main operating cool storage which had some large species of fish.
As for the African ZHONG CHENG HAI along Bob Taylor road, Mohamed Frozen Food, and the National Frozen Food cold storages, it was discovered that they had several cartons of rotten fish ready to be sold on the market through their numerous customers, mainly cold bowl sellers.
Additionally, the release stated that the African ZHONG CHENG HAI , Mohamed Frozen Food, and National Frozen Food cold storages were also shut down for illegally operating without obtaining required permit from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority and the Ministry of Health and as well as operating in an unhygienic environment.
“As for the owners of the KASSEM MOCHAWRAB Center in the commercial hub of Red Light were also operating without the knowledge of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority and the Ministry of Health.” The release noted.
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) regulates all fishing activities on the sea and rivers across Liberia and the operation of all cold storages. NaFAA issues industrial fishing vessels’ licenses to fish in Liberian waters, thus generating revenue for the Government of Liberia.
NaFAA, which came into being after the passage of an act in October 2017 was previously known as the Bureau of National Fisheries under the Ministry of Agriculture and later transferred to the Liberia Maritime Authority as a bureau.
The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority is also responsible to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing at national and international level. Therefore, NaFAA is ensuring that legal fishing activities take place Montserrado, Bomi, Grand Cape Mount, Grand Bassa, Rivercess, Sinoe, Grand Kru, Margibi, and Maryland Counties.
