Local fisherman report full nets and larger fish in Liberia

A few years ago in post-conflict Liberia, the indigenous artisanal fishers fought and feared an emboldened and heavily-armed foreign pirate fishing fleet, who operated illegally throughout West Africa with impunity.

Today, the situation has completely changed. Now it is the artisanal fishers who are empowered to fish their own waters, supported through national legal reforms, an innovative plan allowing them to fish sustainably and make management decisions, and a formidable and battle-hardened maritime enforcement division who has nearly eliminated pirate fishing from home waters.

During our most recent visit, local fishers such as those pictured here reported full nets and larger sizes of fish than they had seen since before the two consecutive civil wars (i.e., not since the early 1990s). Today they certainly have a good reason to smile, and feel proud.

This evolving success story in war-weary West Africa should be an inspiration for any fishing community who thinks that things have gone too far for any hope of return. MMS is deeply honored to have been welcomed in to contribute toward this local solution.

Photo by John Parks, Marine Management Solutions.