The Vice President’s address will highlight Liberia’s pledge to enforce new transparency rules, including requiring beneficial ownership information
Monrovia – Vice President Jeremiah Koung is expected to announce a series of new measures aimed at promoting legal and sustainable fishing practices during his participation at the Third United Nations Ocean Conference (UNOC3) in Nice, France.
As head of Liberia’s delegation, Vice President Koung will outline Liberia’s formal commitment to the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency, a global framework designed to improve accountability in ocean governance.
The announcement will be made during a high-level panel event titled “No Safe Harbour: Exposing the True Beneficiaries of Crime at Sea.”
The Vice President’s address will highlight Liberia’s pledge to enforce new transparency rules, including requiring beneficial ownership information—details about who ultimately profits from fishing activities—to be disclosed as a condition for operating in Liberian waters. This information will be made available to domestic and international regulatory agencies upon request.
“These steps break new ground in Liberia’s efforts to promote sustainable, legal, and ethical fisheries,” Koung is expected to say during his address. “They are part of a broader commitment to protecting our waters and ensuring that Liberians benefit directly from our natural resources.”
The Liberian delegation includes officials from the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Liberia Maritime Authority (LiMA), and the Ministry of State.
Liberia’s participation in the conference comes on the heels of the country’s recent election to a non-permanent seat on the United Nations Security Council on June 3, 2025—a development that bolsters Liberia’s influence on international policy discussions, including maritime security and sustainable development.
Vice President Koung’s expected commitments are part of a growing effort by the Liberian government to address illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing. IUU fishing continues to undermine Liberia’s coastal economies and depletes marine resources critical to food security.
Fisheries account for approximately 10 percent of Liberia’s GDP and are a primary source of protein for 80 percent of the population. The sector also supports thousands of jobs, with women making up around 60 percent of the fisheries workforce.
Liberia’s commitment to the Global Charter for Fisheries Transparency includes ten core principles that improve public access to data on fishing vessels, ownership, and licenses—key elements needed to combat illegal fishing and human rights violations at sea.
Vice President Koung is also expected to announce plans to strengthen monitoring mechanisms, improve registration systems for fishing vessels, and ensure that Liberia’s waters are not used by vessels involved in illegal activities.
These new measures align with the government’s national development strategy, the ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development, and build on prior steps, including Liberia’s accession to the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI), the Lisbon Declaration, and the African Union’s Blue Economy Strategy.
Liberia has also ratified the Port State Measures Agreement (PSMA), established co-management associations in six of its nine coastal counties, and is working to expand coverage to the remaining counties.
Steve Trent, CEO and founder of the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), a key development partner in Liberia’s fisheries reform, praised the country’s commitments.
“Liberia’s dedication to the Charter for Fisheries Transparency is an important step toward transforming its fisheries sector,” said Trent. “These reforms will benefit the lives and livelihoods of thousands of Liberians, and Vice President Koung’s leadership in this area is commendable.”
Vice President Koung is expected to conclude his address by emphasizing Liberia’s goal to restore the nation’s fishing industry to its former status before the civil war and establish itself as a regional leader in sustainable ocean governance.
“Our future—from food security to economic development—is closely tied to a healthy ocean,” he is expected to say. “Liberia’s commitment to ending illegal fishing and promoting transparency is unwavering.”
