MONROVIA-A two-day workshop meant to validate a draft policy for what is known as Collaborative Management Association (CMA), has ended at the Mesurado Pier on the Bushrod Island.
Collaborative management or co-management, is a partnership arrangement in which the community of local resource users (fishers), government, other stakeholders (boat owners, fish traders, boat builders, business people, etc.) and external agents (non-governmental organizations, academic and research institutions) share the responsibility and authority for the management of fisheries.
The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), working with the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) hired an individual consultant through a European Union funding to assist with the drafting of the policy to guide the operations of the CMA for a more effective management of fisheries in Liberia.
The CMA policy seeks to build resilience against food crisis and, among other things, provides an avenue for sustainable fisheries management, ensure transparency and good governance responsible for reducing illegal fishing and provide opportunity to include coastal fishers, women fish processors and other stakeholders into the mainstream of decision-making of fisheries resource management.
Speaking at the start of the validation workshop Tuesday, November 22, 2022, NaFAA Deputy Director General for Technical Services, William Y. Boeh, extolled the European Union for the funding to have the CMA structured. Mr. Boeh, however, expressed optimism that the CMA will be established across the nine coastal counties of Liberia.
Providing overview of the validation, the chief representative of EJF, Cephas Asare said the validation gives stakeholders the unique opportunity to evaluate the drafted document compiled by the consultant.
Stakeholders from different line ministries and agencies of government including Liberia Maritime Authority, Environmental Protection Agency, Forestry Development Authority, and the Cooperative Development Agency are in attendance.