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18th Apr 13

Managed by Chatham House

Financed by DEFRA

Liberia

Liberia has an Atlantic coastline of 580km and fishing grounds within its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) covering over 186,000 km2. Fishing provides 65% of the animal protein needs of the country and contributes around 3.2% to Liberia's GDP.

Approximately 60% of the total domestic catch is landed by artisanal fishers, using various types of canoes and fishing gear, including 200-800m long beach seines. The most recent data shows there are eight industrial fishing companies operating around 30 trawlers, including eight Chinese paired trawlers. All crustaceans caught are frozen for export to Europe (mainly Belgium Greece, Spain and the UK) and the US. Most finfish is frozen whole and marketed for domestic consumption.

Liberia loses approximately $10 million through illegal fishing each year. Fisheries management systems have historically been very weak but the government now has a set of policies set out in Vision 2024 which concentrate on food security, with conservation and environmental protection, and the viability of the ecosystem being key elements. A Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries has also been developed. The Liberian Coast Guard is mandated to enforce fisheries management laws. This process has involved arrests of vessels using gear with mesh sizes below the required size of 25mm for shrimp and 70mm for fish, while the monitoring, control and surveillance system is built on involvement of local fishers as co-managers of the resources. A log system has also been introduced to monitor all fishing activities.

Liberia will also benefit from a plan to tackle piracy and crime syndicates, developed by the International Maritime Organisation's security division, aimed at 25 countries in West and Central Africa. The plan involves linking coastguards with Interpol, the FAO, UNHCR, insurers and other partners, and will include action against illegal fishing.

documents (1)
news (25)

documents

Continuing CCAMLR's Fight Against IUU Fishing for Toothfish
05/11/2008
According to this study, IUU fishing is severely undermining protection of Patagonian toothfish. WWF and TRAFFIC are calling for enhanced monitoring m ...
Author: TRAFFIC / WWF

news

10/02/2011
Illegal Fishing Still Continues In Liberian Waters...Despite Moratorium
Author: The Inquirer

13/02/2010
Coast Guard ready to defend Liberian waters
Author: Daily Observer, Liberia

28/01/2010
Where have all the fish gone?
Author: Daily Observer, Liberia

16/11/2009
Report: It’s easy being a real Pirate off the coast of West Africa
Author: New Jersey Newsroom

08/10/2009
Liberia losing $12m each year to illegal fishing
Author: Net News Publisher

30/08/2009
Editorial: Time for more robust measures to protect our fish and marine resources
Author: Cocorioko, Sierra Leone

23/07/2009
Safeguarding Africa's fishing waters: Regional action needed to stop illegal trawlers off the coast
Author: Africa Renewal, UN

27/03/2009
International effort promotes protection of fishing, ports and trade
Author: News Blaze, US

05/11/2008
Pirates taking heavy toll of toothfish
Author: WWF

02/09/2008
Who is scooping up our fish?
Author: Graphic Online, Ghana

17/06/2008
Fish and timber in West Africa need more sustainable EU policies say MEPs
Author: European Parliament

08/06/2008
Trawlers threaten west Africa fish stocks
Author: The National, Abu Dhabi

05/03/2008
Liberia: reviving fisheries could boost economy and health
Author: allAfrica.com

04/03/2008
Africa Partnership Station concludes collaborative engagement in Gabon
Author: Africa Partnership Station Public Affairs

25/02/2008
Liberia: Government arrest illegal fishing ship
Author: allAfrica.com

26/11/2007
Africa: U.S.-Africa team up to fight maritime insecurity
Author: allAfrica.com

02/10/2007
IMO to tackle coastal piracy
Author: Open sources Information (OSINFO)

18/04/2006
Victory - pirates in deep deep trouble
Author: Greenpeace International

11/04/2006
"Don‘t allow the pirate ship in"
Author: Accra Daily Mail

30/03/2006
Greenpeace Goes Fishing
Author: Time.com

28/03/2006
Greenpeace hunts pirate fishermen off West Africa
Author: Reuters, featured on Planet Ark

27/03/2006
Greenpeace steps up fight on illegal fishing
Author: fishupdate.com

27/03/2006
Shut out fishing pirates, Pacific countries urged
Author: OneWorld UK

27/03/2006
May review of Fish Stocks Agreement to stress participation, implementation in order to reverse decline of fish stocks
Author: Media Newswire

27/03/2006
Unmasking the pirates
Author: Greenpeace/Environmental Justice Foundation

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