Margibi County – In an aggressive attempt to make the country’s fishing sector a major engine of economic growth, the Liberian government presented considerable investment opportunities and reforms during the first National Fisheries Investment Conference.
NaFAA Director General J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr. called the two-day National Fisheries Investment conference, known as “KPONGAMA,” which began on Monday, March 30, 2026, at the Farmington Hotel in lower Margibi Country, a “turning point” with the aim of unlocking Liberia’s abundant marine resources while addressing long-standing issues in the industry.
“Unlocking the Blue Horizons: The Future of Fisheries and the Blue Economy,” he said, was the topic of the gathering, which brought together ministers, investors, development partners, and fisheries stakeholders from more than 21 countries.
With an estimated 254,000 metric tonnes of demersal species and 94,000 metric tonnes of pelagic species, Director Saygbe described Liberia’s seas, which extend 200 nautical miles into the Atlantic Ocean, as one of the Gulf of Guinea’s richest fishing grounds.
He stated that these resources are essential for national development, young employment, and food security. Despite this potential, the head of the NaFAA admitted that the nation has long been denied the full benefits of the industry due to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as inadequate infrastructure and processing capacity.
“This gathering is not merely about fisheries, it is about charting a new course for national prosperity,” he said.
According to him, the program aligns with both the government’s ARREST Agenda for Inclusive Development and broader regional and global frameworks like the African Union Blue Economy Strategy and the UN Sustainable Development Goal 14 on life below water.
Director Saygbe also used the occasion to present three major investment priorities: expanding inland and aquaculture fisheries, modernizing industrial fisheries with the aid of the private sector, and constructing an industrial fishing harbor. Declaring Liberia “open for business,” he made a strong appeal to investors, urging financial institutions and development partners to support innovative financing and long-term sector changes.
Artisanal fishers, particularly women involved in fish processing and trade, were recognized as the backbone of the industry, even as the government pledged to improve infrastructure such as landing sites, cold storage, and logistics.
Liberia’s 10-year fisheries management strategy and its position as a regional leader in the blue economy are anticipated to be shaped by the conference, which is being called the first of its kind. “This is not just an event, it is a turning point as well as calling for collective action to transform Liberia’s fisheries sector into a sustainable driver of growth and opportunity.”
Photo credit: Executive Mansion
