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Commissioner Kollie Jr (left) welcomes to his office the Secretary General of the FCWC, Mr. Seraphin Dedi Nadje |
On 22 April 2017, the Government of the Republic of Liberia issued an Executive Order No. 84, granting the full and complete supervisory oversight and fiscal authority to the Bureau of National Fisheries (BNF) over Liberia’s fisheries resources, pending the enactment of the New National Fisheries Bill currently before parliament.
The mandate of the BNF includes the promulgation of regulations, guidelines, fees and granting of licenses and authorisations for the utilisation and management of the Liberian fisheries resources.
As the Republic of Liberia has also been chairing the Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) since the 9th session of the Conference held in Liberia, in December 2016, and in accordance with FCWC Convention, Article 7.1 and 3, Sub Section 1, the Head of a National Institution in charge of marine fisheries resources is a member of the Conference and can, therefore, chair the Conference. Thus, Liberia chairing the FCWC and the Liberian Maritime Authority (LiMA) being responsible for fisheries resources, Commissioner James Kollie Jr, Head of LiMa, is automatically the Chair of the Conference for 2017.
The FCWC warmly welcomes on board Commissioner Kollie Jr as Chairman.