Liberia aims to boost fishing industry with survey ship
A research project was launched in Liberia to help the country, with 500km (310 miles) of coastline, take advantage of the marine resources.
A Moroccan survey boat set sail from the capital, Monrovia, on Friday for the start of a fortnight’s trip as it evaluates whether Liberia’s sea life can be exploited commercially.
“With this stock assessment, we will now know… if there are high-value species and if we can go into full scale industrialisation or semi-industrialisation,” director general of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority Emma Metieh Glassco said.
The vessel was officially commissioned by the Speaker of Parliament Jonathan Fonati Koffa .
“The project is intended to improve and accelerate the fisheries sector,” he said.
He added that the goal was “to move from artisanal fishing to industrialised fishing which would grow a viable economy for Liberia”.
The research is being conducted by the Morocco Research National Institute and Morocco’s Fisheries Minister Mohammed Sadiki said: “The fishing industry is at the heart of the blue economy and it is important to share data, science and information.”
By BBC
