The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), in collaboration with Liberia's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), convened a three-day National Working Group (NWG) Meeting in Monrovia to strengthen national and regional efforts to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing through enhanced Monitoring, Control and Surveillance (MCS), Port State Measures (PSMA) implementation, and inter-agency cooperation.

 

The workshop brought together representatives from key government institutions responsible for fisheries management, maritime administration, maritime security, ministry of Justice, immigration, coast guard, and port operations. It forms part of FCWC's continuing commitment to supporting Member States in improving fisheries governance and protecting marine resources across the West Central Gulf of Guinea.

 

The meeting focused on strengthening cooperation among Liberia's fisheries enforcement agencies while reinforcing links with regional initiatives coordinated through the FCWC Regional Monitoring, Control and Surveillance Centre (RMCSC). Participants reviewed progress made since previous National Working Group meetings and assessed Liberia's current MCS capacity to identify priorities for future improvement.

 

Discussions also examined regional cooperation mechanisms that enable Member States to exchange information through the regional information sharing mechanism (Basecamp), coordinate enforcement actions, and respond more effectively to cross-border fisheries offences. The workshop highlighted the importance of collaborative approaches in addressing increasingly sophisticated IUU fishing activities across West African waters.

 

A significant component of the workshop focused on Liberia's implementation of the FAO Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA). Building on a technical mission conducted in May 2026, participants continued developing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for vessel inspections, reviewed procedures for analysing Advance Request for Entry into Port (AREP) information and identified practical measures to strengthen inter-agency coordination during port inspections.

 

Interactive working sessions allowed agencies to refine operational procedures, clarify institutional roles and responsibilities, and identify information requirements necessary to improve fisheries inspections and enforcement activities.

 

The workshop also included demonstrations and practical exercises using the Vessel Viewer platform, enabling participants to strengthen their ability to monitor fishing vessel activities and make better use of available Maritime Domain Awareness tools.

 
The discussions resulted in stronger coordination among Liberia’s fisheries enforcement agencies and enhanced collaboration with the FCWC Regional MCS Centre. They also improved participants’ understanding and implementation of the Regional Record of Authorised Fishing Vessels and supported the further development of Liberia’s national Port State Measures Agreement Standard Operating Procedures. In addition, the process produced an updated national Monitoring, Control and Surveillance capacity assessment, identified agreed priority actions for strengthening implementation of Liberia’s inter-agency Memorandum of Understanding, and established a practical action plan for continued technical assistance and future cooperation.

 

FCWC's Commitment

 

Through initiatives such as the National Working Group programme, the FCWC continues to support Member States in strengthening regional cooperation, enhancing fisheries monitoring and enforcement and implementing international best practices to prevent Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing. By fostering stronger partnerships between national agencies and regional institutions, the FCWC is helping to safeguard marine resources, protect coastal livelihoods, and promote sustainable fisheries management throughout the West Central Gulf of Guinea.

 
Monrovia, Liberia | 20–22 July 2026

 
Tina Nkansah Akuamoah, Communication Officer