President Boakai Embraces NaFAA’s 10-Year Fisheries Vision, Commends Management for Advancing Sector Reform and Sustainable Growth

The President received the National Fisheries Investment Plan and Implementation Roadmap Strategy and the National Fisheries Management Strategy 2026–2036 during a meeting with the management of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) at his Rehab offices in Paynesville on Monday.

The NaFAA delegation was led by Director-General Cyrus Saygbe, Sr.

President Boakai thanked the Management Team for its work and the plans submitted. He acknowledged the importance of the fisheries sector to Liberia’s food security and the protection of its marine life. He went on to pledge his support for efforts to develop the sector sustainably and expand its benefits to Liberians.

Together, the two documents establish a long-term framework for fisheries management, infrastructure development, aquaculture expansion, and investment over the next decade. They seek to unlock economic opportunities while safeguarding the resources on which fishing communities depend.

The Investment Plan identifies the private sector as the principal engine of growth, innovation, and wealth creation in Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture economy. Its implementation roadmap provides a framework for translating investment priorities into practical interventions.

The National Fisheries Management Strategy 2026–2036, meanwhile, draws on a year of analytical work, field consultations, and institutional collaboration. It sets a direction for the sustainable management of fisheries resources, linking the sector’s economic potential with the need to protect Liberia’s marine environment.

During the engagement, NaFAA also presented its Third Quarter Performance Report, outlining key achievements, ongoing interventions, institutional progress, and upcoming priorities. The report provided the President with an update on the Authority’s work alongside its longer-term plans.

The Management Team further briefed President Boakai on preparations for World Fisheries Day, scheduled for November 21, 2026, in Harper, Maryland County.

The celebration is expected to coincide with the opening of NaFAA’s first regional office, a step toward decentralizing fisheries services and bringing the Authority closer to fishing communities.

Accompanying Director General Saygbe to the meeting with the President were to NaFAA officials, including Madam Madia H. Peters - Magbollah, Deputy Director General for Administration; Atty. Abraham Dioh, Project Coordinator of the Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project; and Mr. Ezekiel Allen , Chief of Staff to the Director General of NaFAA.

President Boakai’s support gives encouragement to NaFAA’s efforts to build a sustainable, competitive, and investment-driven sector. The next phase will center on turning the plans into action that strengthens food security, protects marine resources, and improves livelihoods across Liberia.