By Socrates Smythe Saywon
MONROVIA – Liberia’s Commissioner General of the Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA), James Dorbor Jallah, has described the newly launched Fisheries Information Management System (FIMS) as a groundbreaking step toward safeguarding the country’s marine wealth, boosting revenue collection, and strengthening transparency in the fisheries sector.
Speaking Friday, August 15, 2025, at the official launch in Monrovia, Jallah said the system marks a turning point in Liberia’s efforts to combat illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing while ensuring the fisheries sector delivers its full value to the economy.
“For too long, the absence of a robust, integrated system meant that our fisheries sector, despite its enormous potential, has not delivered its full value to the nation,” he noted. “Today, we turn the page. The launch of FIMS signals that Liberia is serious about protecting its marine wealth, improving compliance, and ensuring that the benefits of our fisheries are accounted for, reported, and reinvested into our economy.”
The LRA Commissioner General emphasized that FIMS goes beyond fisheries management, describing it as a vital “revenue governance instrument.” With its capacity to provide real-time data on vessel licensing, catch volumes, exports, and operator compliance, Jallah said the system will allow the LRA to accurately assess and collect revenues from licenses, fees, and levies, while closing gaps that previously led to revenue leakages.
“This is the shift from manual guesswork to evidence-based governance,” he added, noting that linking the platform to the LRA’s Tax Administration System, the Coast Guard, Customs, and the Port Authority would strengthen enforcement and improve coordination.
Highlighting the success of similar systems in countries like Namibia and Ghana, Jallah expressed optimism that Liberia would experience increased fisheries revenue and reduced IUU fishing through the new integrated platform.
He recommended full interagency integration, sustained training for staff, stakeholder education, data-driven policymaking, regional cooperation, and sustainable financing to ensure the system’s success and long-term functionality.
“Fisheries are not just about fish, they are about jobs, nutrition, trade, and national wealth,” Jallah stressed. “The FIMS allows us to protect our resources, grow our revenues, and build investor confidence.”
The LRA boss concluded by pledging the Authority’s full support to the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) and partners in ensuring that every vessel, every catch, and every transaction in the fisheries sector is properly recorded, reported, and used to benefit the Liberian people.
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