NaFAA Certificates 25 Liberian Journalists On Fisheries Training

By Fanta L. Keita

MONROVIA, Nov. 5 (LINA) – The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) through its implemented Project, Liberia Sustainable Management Fisheries Project (LSMFP) funded by World Bank has certificated 25 Liberian Media Practitioners for attending a 3-day intensive media training workshop.

The training focused on the enhancement of media literacy and ethical journalism within the fisheries and aquaculture sectors and was conducted at NaFAA's Technical Building at the Coast Guard Base at Mesurado Pier, in Monrovia.

The occasion equipped journalists with essential skills for more responsible reporting on fisheries and aquaculture related issues.

It lasted from October 30 to November 1, 2024, during which period facilitators enlightened participants on the Key Terms and Concepts for Effective Reporting on the understanding of Aquaculture, Global Fisheries and Aquaculture Production Trends on Challenges, Opportunities and Sustainability.

The trainers also elaborated on combating misinformation and fake news about fisheries through fact-checking, Climate Change Impacts on coastal communities and the fisheries sector, the Role of Journalism in Promoting Sustainable Fisheries on informing policy, protecting resources and empowering communities.

Additionally, trainers spoke on the Principles of Responsible Journalism which focused on ethics, accountability and solution-based reporting, Harnessing Data Journalism to Enhance Fisheries Reporting and Leveraging Digital Tools for Reporting on Fisheries.

For his part, NaFAA Deputy Director General for Technical Services William Y. Boeh urged participants to make maximum use of the knowledge acquired to uplift fisheries related issues on their platform by focusing on the challenges, opportunities and sustainability.

“Fisheries is very crucial because we deal with human beings, we don’t manage fish, but rather we manage people that relate with fisheries issues,” he added.

At the same time, Frank Sainworla, a Liberian Publisher, who served as one of the facilitators, also called on journalists to focus their report on responsible journalism which is embedded with solution journalism, “this form of journalism picks up both positive and negative narrative of a story, not being partial when it comes to reporting a story.”

In conclusion, participants expressed their gratitude to NaFAA and its project (LSMFP), committing to positively use the knowledge acquired for its intended purpose.