Group photo of participant of on Regional Fisheries Cooperation in Liberia
The Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) successfully concluded the sixteenth edition of its leading regional fisheries MCS cooperation event, the West Africa Task Force (WATF) Meeting 16, in Monrovia, Liberia, on June 14, 2024. The three-day meeting resulted in agreements to finalize important plans for adoption at the next FCWC Conference of Ministers.
The WATF meeting brought together fisheries directors, heads of MCS from FCWC’s Member States, partners, and fisheries experts. They shared national-level updates and discussed regional-level actions in fisheries MCS.
During the opening ceremony, Hon. Emma Glassco, Director-General of Liberia’s National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), reaffirmed Liberia’s commitment to fighting IUU fishing. She noted that Liberia’s MCS staff have undergone several capacity-building training sessions to enhance their ability to combat illegal fishing. FCWC Secretary-General Dr. Antoine Gaston Djihinto expressed gratitude to the host nation and partners for their dedication and support to the FCWC in combatting IUU fishing and promoting sustainable marine resource management.
The core discussions focused on the strategies, tools, mechanisms, and activities the FCWC is using to combat illegal fishing. Participants reviewed the draft Sustainability Plan for the FCWC Regional MCS Centre (RMCSC), which proposes current and potential revenue sources, and the possibility of developing a range of services the RMCSC can provide for a fee. The Regional Record of Authorized Fishing Vessels (RRAFV) was also discussed, exploring its potential function as a revenue-generating MCS tool within the RMCSC. Additionally, participants received updates on the outputs of the RMCSC (Fisheries Intelligence Reports, Monitoring Observation Reports) and its activities (sharing intelligence and providing monitoring support during maritime exercises and closed seasons). An update to the Regional Strategy to Combat Illegal Transshipment and an action plan for its implementation were also discussed.
The meeting concluded with several requests to the WATF Technical Team: to finalize the draft Sustainability Plan for the RMCSC; to update the Regional Strategy to Combat Illegal Transshipment and develop an implementation plan; to facilitate the operationalization of the RRAFV; to support the development of standard operating procedures, guidelines for the online regional communication platform, and an overview of licensing processes, conditions, and fees in the region; and to provide additional training or support during maritime operations (patrols, etc.) and closed seasons.
Other important discussions included the achievements of the Improved Fisheries Governance in Ghana and Wider Sub-region (IFG) project and how to extend its activities region-wide in its second phase proposal. Member States were also encouraged to reach out for a better understanding of modalities for countries interested in shiprider agreements with the United States Coast Guard.
Engagement with other African regions and organizations was strengthened through the participation of representatives from the FCWC’s sibling fisheries body, the Subregional Fisheries Commission (SRFC), and neighbouring countries Sierra Leone and Cameroon.
