Liberia: Fishery Cooperatives, Others Get Skills in Outboard Machines Maintenance

Participants of the outboard machine maintenance training workshop.

About 22 fisheries cooperatives and some staff of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) have acquired skills in the maintenance and operation of outboard fishing machines.

The training, which was held in Monrovia, was facilitated by some Japanese experts in collaboration with NaFAA. It aims to make fisheries cooperatives mechanize fishing activities in order to improve their catch to ensure the sustainability of the country’s fisheries sector.

During the opening of the workshop, Augustine Manoballah, NaFAA’s Deputy Director General for Administration, encouraged participants to take the training seriously. He said NaFAA was not just interested in giving outboard engines to fisherfolks, but saw it necessary to train beneficiaries for the proper maintenance and sustainability. 

“We’re not just interested in giving you equipment without understanding the usage. We’re also keen on the issue of sustenance,” he said. “Because if you’re not properly equipped with how to manage or repair them, when it starts to have a problem, you may decide to take it to the wrong people”. 

Manoballah used the opportunity to laud the efforts of the Japanese Government and other partners for the training. “We’re grateful to the people of Japan, CICA Motors, and Grow Agents for the wonderful partnership,” he said. 

Meanwhile, at the close of the training workshop, the participants extolled NaFAA and its partners for building their capacity. They expressed optimism that the knowledge gained will be used to properly manage and maintain machines given to them.

The nine coastal counties of Liberia were represented at the workshop by two persons each. Few staff from NaFAA’s technical office also participated. 

It can be recalled that on October 23, 2021, President George Manneh Weah officially launched 420 pieces of Yamaha Outboard Engines in the port city of Buchanan, Grand Bassa County. The launch of the outboard machines was followed the free distribution of the outboard engines to established fishery cooperatives across the nine coastal counties

The outboard engines were donated to NaFAA by the Japanese Government following a visit to Japan by Weah.