Monrovia, Liberia
The two-day National Fisheries Investment Conference (Kpongama 2026) marked a major step forward for Liberia in unlocking the full potential of its fisheries sector. The conference brought together government leaders, international partners, private investors, and regional stakeholders under the theme, “Unlocking the Blue Horizons: The Future of Fisheries and the Blue Economy.”
A major highlight of the discussions was the growing importance of regional collaboration in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, a persistent threat to Liberia’s marine resources and economic future.
Correspondingly, International Partners, including the EU, the World Bank, and the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC), are mobilizing significant resources to transform Liberia’s blue economy into a sustainable and investment-ready sector.
The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) emerged as a key partner in this effort, with renewed commitments to strengthen joint patrols and coordinated surveillance across West African waters. Delegates emphasized that illegal fishing is a transboundary challenge that requires unified enforcement, shared intelligence, and collective governance.
Alongside enforcement efforts, the conference called for the deployment of satellite monitoring technologies and enhanced maritime surveillance systems to deter illegal fishing and improve compliance across the sector.
The European Union are already stepping up to support Liberia’s vision by announcing a €25 million initiative focused on artisanal fisheries and sustainable infrastructure, while the World Bank is investing in capacity building, digital systems, and support for women-led enterprises.
However, stakeholders stressed that without effective regional enforcement mechanisms, led by institutions like the FCWC, such investments could remain vulnerable to exploitation by illegal fishing operations.
Beyond enforcement, the conference identified aquaculture expansion, local fish feed production, and critical infrastructure such as cold chain systems and processing facilities as priority investment areas.
Civil society and fishing communities were encouraged to play an active role in promoting sustainable practices and ensuring accountability, reinforcing the need for inclusive governance across the fisheries value chain.
With participation from countries including Ghana, Nigeria, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Morocco, and Côte d’Ivoire, the conference marked a turning point for regional cooperation.
The conference is expected to generate new partnerships, unlock investment opportunities, and accelerate the development of a sustainable fisheries sector that benefits communities across Liberia.
