The 15th Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) ended its conference here Friday, December 13, with the elections of Liberia’s Fisheries Director General as its new chairperson.
Monrovia, December 16, 2024/ The Liberian Government through the National Fisheries Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) Friday, December 13, 2024, disclosed an ambitious plan to explore possibilities of increasing the membership of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) from (6-10) while assuming the Chairmanship of the regional fisheries body during the Ministerial session of which was attended by President Joseph Boakai and entourage.
“Under Liberia’s Chairmanship, I do have an ambitious plan of exploring possibilities of increasing FCWC member states from (6-10), and I am confident this goal is attainable”.
Making remarks, the new Chairperson, the Director General of NaFAA, Mrs. Emma Metieh Glassco who took over from the outgoing chairperson Mavis Hawa Koomsom, Ghanaian former Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, among other things, stated that her greatest vision as Chair of FCWC is to foster and facilitate inter-regional trade among members states, particularly Liberia which according to her has an emerging fisheries sector with untapped opportunities in captured fisheries and Aquaculture development.
Moreover, the new Fisheries Chair also plans to strengthen bilateral cooperation through shared and technical experiences and harmonized policies on license regimes, establish regional protocols for negotiating Sustainable Fisheries Access Partnership Agreements with the European Union, and source donor support that benefits all member states of FCWC.
Liberia’s Fisheries Director General Hon. Emma Metieh Glassco received the FCWC Flag as the New Chairperson to manage the affairs of the Sub-Regional Fisheries Body.
Reflecting on the regional fisheries conference theme, “promoting decent work and strengthening Marime and Ecosystem Resilience for the Sustainability of the Fisheries Sector,” Madam Glassco mentioned that fishing is associated with very high risks and is considered one of the world’s most dangerous jobs. She, therefore, said responsible Coastal, Flag, and Port States must uphold the rules and treaties they are party to and ensure that the International Labor Organization (ILO) standards are fully implemented to safeguard local seafarers.
During the Ministerial meeting in Monrovia, the Ministers and Fisheries Technicians from the Member States adopted and signed the Monrovia Declaration to ensure joint fisheries operations such as joint fisheries patrols and joint closed fishing seasons, among other technical issues.
Meanwhile, the 15th Ministerial session, which climaxes the three days of International Fisheries discussions on fisheries development within the region, brought together several dignitaries from all member states of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC). It was announced that Nigeria will host the 16th Ministerial Conference.
