NaFAA Begins Lawful Revenue Collection – Impound Several Canoe

June 17,2021

The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), backed by the Liberia National Police and the Liberia Coast Guard, Tuesday June 15, 2021, embarked on the collection of fishery license fees from fisher folks in the coastal community of West Point.

NafAA said the collection of fishery license fees from fisher folks is part of efforts to generating lawful revenue for government.

The NaFAA team arrived in West Point early Tuesday morning, while the fishermen were still in bed thus giving the enforcers the leverage to identify canoes that are in violation of the “licensing-before-fishing” regulation before leaving for fishing.

The team which was led by NaFAA Director General, Emma Metieh Glassco was seen impounding several canoes for noncompliance.

Meanwhile, Director-General Glassco during the enforcement registered her disappointment in the snail-paced voluntary payment of the fees, and the role of the fishing chiefs in ensuring compliance after they had committed themselves.

She at the same time was seen moving from different landing sites using canoe and the Liberia Coast Guard patrol boat in search of canoes that are deemed illegally fishing in Liberia’s waters.

However, the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority has given the fisher folks up to Thursday to comply. This decision comes on the heels of numerous appeals to Madam Glassco by the fishermen.

It can be recalled, recently Operators of fishing canoes were given grace period twice for the payment of their 2021 fishing license fees following numerous appeals. These grace periods had since elapsed, with no or very limited efforts by fisher folks to comply. The fishermen primarily Kru canoe operators, are obligated to paying annual operational fees of US$50 (L$8,500) per canoe.

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