By Taisiah K. Merfee   

IPNEWS: Deputy House Speaker, Cllr. Jonathan Fonati Koffa has said that the Fisheries Sector is a key Component of the Liberian Economy and that the launch and introduction of the Bachelor of Science degree in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science at the State-run University of Liberia is pivotal to the learning process at the University and will immensely contribute to the development of the Country in the coming years.

Cllr. Koffa noted that the fisheries and aquaculture sector is another option for students desirous of entering that higher institution of learning.

According to Deputy House Speaker Koffa, there are still prospects for the overall development of Liberia particularly with the step taken by the University of Liberia and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, a new stage is set for the development of Liberia.

He said the Legislature is prepared to support the new program at the University of Liberia.

“There is no doubt that this program will have a great impact in the fisheries sector of Liberia and as Liberia moves forward, the National Government will fully support the program,” Koffa assured amidst applauds.

He added that the challenges in the fisheries sector are enormous and with   the help of Liberia’s international partners, the challenges will be overcome as the livelihood of those involved in the sector is very important.

Deputy Speaker Koffa, a lawyer and Representative of Grand Kru County, said human capacity development is a major Component in the development of the country’s fisheries sector

“What we are doing here today is to develop the minds of young people, who see this sector as a way of making life,” the Deputy Speaker also indicated.

Cllr. Koffa further added that food security remains a major concern of any nation and Liberia is of no exception since it faces the same challenges that other countries face.

The launch of this new academic program, a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in Fisheries and Aquaculture at the University of Liberia, the Grand Kru lawmaker said, is as a result of President George Weah’s commitment to improve the education sector.

He, however, hoped that the fisheries sector will not be like the rubber industry that has existed in the country for over hundred years but has not been able to produced rubber materials such as tyres. The Deputy House Speaker challenged Liberia’s international partners to make the fisheries sector vibrant by processing the fish and turning it into finished products such as sardines and tuna fish.

In remarks during the launch of the new academic program, University of Liberia President, Dr. Julius Sarwolo Nelson, Jr., said the country’s highest institution of learning has for more than a century, been in the vanguard of training men and women to breach the knowledge deficit which he observed exists in many critical areas, such as health, education, agriculture, the environment, technology, the economy, among others.

“A nation can only respond to its many developmental challenges by adequately preparing its human capital. Recognizing this as key to the development of this nation, the University of Liberia, has in the last five years alone, embarked upon the task of adding new academic programs at the undergraduate and graduate levels to respond to the demands of the present reality as well as the future,” Dr. Nelson said.

He recalled the launch of the honors college during which our administration was lauded for providing the environment for debate, research, critical thinking, analysis, knowledge expansion, competence, excellence, and advocacy. Now, you are here again, to officially launch a new program. We thank you for your continued support.

He said according to many statistics, including the one from the World Bank, Liberia is among the poorest countries in the world; in fact one of them says we are the 8th poorest country in the world with an estimated GDP of around US$ 3.2 billion.

Despite the fact that this country of around 5.4 million people with a coastline of 579 km comprising an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 246,000 km² that is home to valuable demersal and pelagic fishery resources.

Fisheries in Liberia play a key role in terms of food and nutritional security. We love to eat fish in Liberia, and have the best fish in the world.

This means we can do a lot with our fishery sector. Right now, the fishery sector provides jobs for 33,000 Liberians, revenues and foreign exchange earnings for the government and contribute around 10% to our GDP.

But I believe we can do better to improve these numbers. That is exactly what we have recognized in our partnership with NaFAA and the World Bank.

Dr. Nelson said since 2010, the World Bank intervened in the Liberian fisheries sector, and this industry has been evolving quite rapidly since then. The head of NaFAA will provide in more details of how the intervention of the World Bank has impacted the Fishery sector, shortly.

“Let me inform you that we anticipate offering this program to students as early as the first semester of the 2022/2023 academic year,” he assured.

As a result of this and many other reasons, we are happy and proud today to be a part of this launch, which is the first of its kind in the Republic of Liberia and the educational sector.

‘’We believe that as we take the lead in this sector of our educational system, the impact will be felt far and wide in our country, as we continue to work toward sustainable development for our common patrimony’’.

For National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority’s Director General, Emma Glassco, Liberia has a coastline of 579 km and an exclusive economic zone (EEZ) of 246,000 km and is home to valuable demersal and pelagic fishery resources.

The Fisheries sector in Liberia, she said, plays a key role in terms of food and nutritional security, job creation for 33,000 Liberians, revenue generation and foreign exchange earnings for the government while it also contributes to around 10% to the Country’s GDP.

Madam Glassco said since the intervention of the World Bank in supporting the development of Liberia fisheries, through the former West African Regional Fisheries Project, there have been tremendous improvements in governance, human capacity development and profitability of the fishing fleets.

She, however, said the World Bank again has continued its support to ensure that the gains are sustained with an additional investment of US$40 million and US$20 million from the OPEC Fund. These new investments are to support infrastructure development in the Liberian fisheries sector and improve livelihood opportunities.

Madam Glassco said while key progress has been observed and well documented in the Liberian fisheries sector, human capacity and capacity development, especially for private sector involvement, remain a major challenge, indicating that the need for continuous capacity development is pivotal.

The NAFFA Boss said in retrospect, the World Bank, West African Regional Fisheries Project, agreed to finance the preparation of a bachelor’s in Fisheries and Aquaculture Science Curriculum for the University of Liberia in partnership with the University of Iceland, to address this gap. The activities commenced and much successes were achieved but was not completed.

“Today, in this new project, the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project, we are pleased that funding was again approved, in the amount of 1.5 million united states dollars to support the establishment and running of the program,” she added.

She said the program is expected to provide students with an opportunity to obtain an undergraduate degree in fisheries and aquaculture science as it is designed to prepare fisheries professionals with competencies and the acquisition of practical skills in fisheries.

Glassco said the overall goal of the fisheries and aquaculture program is to build the needed human resource capacity that will support the Liberian government in achieving its sustainable development objectives of national food and nutrition security, resource conservation, and sustainable management of fisheries resource of Liberia, marine and inland ecosystems to provide long-term goods and services to the communities.

“One of the key objectives of the Liberia sustainable management for fisheries Project is the transitioning of Liberia’s fishing industry from small-scale to semi and large-scale industrialization,” Madam Glassco, also noted.

The NAFAA Boos disclosed that the World Bank quite recently agreed with the UL administration that this transition is essential to economic growth.

She, however, said the UL administration has also agreed that in order to provide short-termed hands-on technical trainings, research and scientific interventions in addressing the gaps in the sector, a regional centre of excellence for fisheries and aquatic sciences should be established at the University of Liberia.

She said the centre will be very key in supporting the transition of the Liberia fisheries sector to semi and large scale industrialization through capacity development, institutional strengthening, innovation, research, extension service, quality assurance, among others.

“It is envisaged that the immediate focus of the Canter will be providing technical, capacity development, and knowledge support for the efforts that is aimed at industrializing the fishery sector in Liberia and beyond,” Madam Glassco further noted.

Madam Glassco said the NAFAA management is excited to have reached this far, adding that it did require a lot of time, efforts, lobbying, research and resources. She appreciated the cooperation of the leadership of the University of Liberia and encouraged it to remain focused in ensuring that this program is effective and successful.

She extended appreciation to the World Bank Group for the support it provided and continues to provide for the development of the Liberian Fisheries sector.

Glassco assured the World Bank Group that NAFAA will remain committed to ensuring that the requisite resources provided to support the program are utilized appropriately.

She said while in the process of planning and budgeting, it was established that there is a need for additional funding to support faculty capacity development as well as attracting professionals from around the World to provide teaching services. We expect to utilized already established relationships with the University of Cape Coast in Ghana, Auburn University in the United States of America, University of Iceland, Iceland and Rhode University, South Africa

Therefore, we are calling on the World Bank to consider this program in her activities for the year 2023, especially in securing additional fund for the Regional Centre of Excellence. We are grateful for the level of support from the Bank and are confident that there will be an intervention for more funds.

“It is anticipated that the program will start its first semester in academic year 2023/2024 and we look forward to the 2027 Graduating Class, the inaugural Class!”