The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) and the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), through the European Union-funded Communities for Fisheries project, have inducted into office newly elected Collaborative Management Association (CMA) Executives in Region I, II and III, Grand Cape Mount County in Liberia.
The CMA is a community-based governance structure that enables fishing communities to work in partnership with the government through a democratic and participatory approach to sustainably manage fisheries resources. EJF is an international NGO in Liberia working to promote sustainable fisheries, address illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and community participation in fisheries management.
EJF and NaFAA on Wednesday, September 27, 28 and 29, 2023, inducted into offices CMA leaders of regions one, two, and three, Grand Cape Mount County, completing the establishment of CMAs in four, i.e., Margibi, Grand Bassa, Grand Kru and Grand Cape Mount of Liberia’s nine Coastal counties in collaboration with NaFAA.
Mr. Cephas Asare, West Africa Regional Manager of EJF, presenting a background of the Communities for Fisheries in four of Liberia’s coastal counties, calls for the collective involvement of all Grand Cape Mount Citizens, including officials, private citizens, fishermen, and fishmongers for the success of the CMAs established to govern fisheries activities.
Mr. Asare, speaking at the induction ceremony, said everyone needs to join forces to ensure that the operations of the CMAs are successful by rallying their support toward the established fisheries bodies for the sustainability of the Liberian fisheries sector.
At the same time, he pledged the EJF support under the European Union-funded Communities for Fisheries project to ensure that all the CMAs established in the four counties continue to be effective in discharging their duties.
“The best way to manage fisheries more sustainably in Liberia is to embrace the teamwork, capacity building, and inclusion of resource users in the decision-making,” Mr. Asare said.