Liberia: House Calms Fishermen’s Rage

Hundreds of angry artisanal fishermen from coastal communities across the country, who have been planning to express their displeasure over the hike in the registration fees of fishing canoes through a mass public protest, have no cause to do so anymore.

This is because the House of Representatives has intervened in the fishing community’s displeasure over increased registration fees for fishing canoes — a situation that has led to a massive nationwide protest from local fishermen. 

The House on Tuesday voted to adjust the fees set by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA). This decision came after a thorough investigation into the substantial fee hike, with concerns raised by the Liberia Artisanal Fishermen Association (LAFA) regarding the impact on their livelihoods amidst environmental challenges.

This move by the Lawmakers could not have come at a better time as it would foil planned nationwide protests from over 1,000 fishermen. The protests were being organized by the Liberia Artisanal Fishermen Association (LAFA).

The House’s unanimous and incisive decision followed a report from the Agriculture, Fishery and Forestry Committee into an investigation of the 900% rise in canoes’ registration fees in which the LAFA leadership threatened a protest of “no fishing”, owing to a 900% increment in the canoes’ registration fees amid current challenges in catching fish due to climate change, global warming, marine pollution, and ecosystem degradation.

Accordingly, NaFAA has set the canoes’ registration fees as follows:  Paddle canoes - L$2,500 to US$50.00; 15 horsepower canoes - L$5,000 to US$250; 40 horsepower canoes - L$10,000 to US$475.00

The fishermen, through their leaders, John Cummings, Abraham Bropleh, John Quasah, Samuel K. Quarshie, and Aloysius B.Tweh have been appealing for the reductions of registration fees as follows. They pleaded with the House committee for the following reductions: peddling canoe from US$50 to US$30 (as was in 2023 L$2,500); 15 powerhouse canoes from US$250 to US$150.00 (as was in 2023 L$5,000) and 40 powerhouse canoes from US$475 to US$300 (as was in 2023  L$10,000).

The House's committee, through their report to the House’s leadership, supported the fishermen's plea for reduced fees and recommended new registration fees for approval by the House.

Fisheries are an essential source of food, income and livelihoods for thousands of people across Liberia, particularly in coastal communities. About 20% of Liberians, according to the European Commission, depend on fish as a source of animal protein. More than 33,000 people, the Commission said in report, depend on fish for their livelihoods and income.

Women are the backbone of the artisanal fisheries as they provide finances for the fishermen; they process and sell the fish. They are a pillar of the small-scale fisheries, bringing the catch from the landing site to people’s plates.

But the increase in the registration fees, LAFA leaders noted, is impacting the women more. “Single mothers who depend on daily catches are finding it very difficult to get fish because more canoes are not registered. A very few fishermen are in business,” one said in an interview.

However, NaFAA justified the fee increase based on comparisons with other West African countries and the potential revenue from fishing activities.

According to House Committee hearings, NaFAA Director General Emma M. Glassco told the committee that she was instructed by the board of directors to conduct an assessment on the canoe registration fees in the western region of Africa.

According to her, the assessment report shows that Liberia has the lowest canoe registration fee in West Africa and needs to be increased to current day reality to increase government revenue collection.

She narrated that the amount of fish every individual canoe can catch during a year’s commercial value can be around US$5,000 and above.

Glassco also informed the committee that, after the assessment, a report was sent to the Board with a recommendation for an increment in the annual registration. Thereafter, she also convened a meeting with the leadership of LAFA on the current annual canoe registration in its categories.

She pointed out that if there is any reduction in the annual canoe registration in its categories, the process has to begin from the House of Representatives.

Following the House’s Agriculture, Fishery, and Forestry report, the House voted overwhelmingly to endorse the report and mandated its committee to forward the new canoe registration fees for subsequent approval by the House’s plenary.

Meanwhile, the House’s proactive response aims to address the fishermen’s concerns and promote sustainable fishing practices.