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Your Excellency Hawa Marvis Koomson, Minister of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Republic of Ghana and Chairperson of Fisheries Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC);
Honorable Christine N. Umutoni United Nations Resident Coordinator in Liberia;
Honorable Bintia Stephen-Tchicaya, Acting FAO Country Representative;
Dr. Gaston A. Djiainto, The Secretary General of the FCWC;
The CECAF Secretariat and Other Foreign Dignitaries;
National Delegates;
The Media
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen;
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you, on behalf of His Excellency The President of Liberia, Dr. George Manneh Weah, and the people of Liberia, to the 23RD Session of the CECAF Committee in Liberia.
We want to express our profound thanks and appreciation to the FAO Director General and the CECAF Secretariat for the singular honor of selecting Liberia as the host of the Twenty-Third Session of the CECAF Committee Meeting.
This 23rd Session which is been held under the theme “Toward practical solutions to strengthen fisheries management and sustainability in CECAF region” marks a historic year for CECAF especially at a time of global recovery from the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on all fabrics of society, including the fisheries sector, which holds high significance for global food security and coastal livelihoods.
According to an assessment conducted on the impact of COVID-19 on the Fisheries sector by the FAO, it was established that the COVID impacted RFMO and other fisheries governing bodies from meeting regularly to ensure the protection of share stocks and enforce compliance to global or region fisheries regulations. This posed a threat to conserving and sustainably managing our shared stocks.
However, we are pleased that the FAO-CECAF has continued to demonstrate strong leadership and commitment in terms of sustainable fisheries resource management among its Member Nations through its functions and operations. The body has continued to promote, encourage and coordinate research on living marine resources and develop programs to guide fisheries management and fisheries-related research;
It has continued to establish the scientific basis for regulatory measures leading to the conservation and management of marine fishery resources and to deliberate measures through CECAF’s subsidiary bodies;
and has continued to provide advice for the adoption of regulatory measures by Member Governments, sub-regional or regional organizations, as appropriate, which are embedded in its core function.
Ladies and Gentlemen, these activities and operations embodies CECAF’s fundamental mandate of promoting the sustainable utilization of living marine resources through a science-based approach to fisheries management frameworks and fishing operations across CECAF’s region. Please note that your functions are very crucial to the livelihood of our rural coastal dwellers.
Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, Liberia fisheries sector contributes approximately 12% of the agriculture Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and provides direct employment to at least 33,000 full time fishers, fishmongers and processors living along the coast. The marine capture fishery is the major revenue generation source of the sector, producing about 40,000 tons per year. The fisheries sector is important in the Liberia micro economic development as it strengthens the food security by providing about 65% of the national animal protein needs; it serves as a major source of employment and livelihoods diversification; and it provides the opportunity to generate foreign exchange and revenue.
On this note, I would like to congratulate all member countries and relevant stakeholders as you actively work to execute the agenda of CECAF, especially during this 23rd Session, keeping in mind that your singular objective is finding practical solutions to strengthen fisheries management and the sustainability of shared stocks in the region.
This 23rd Regular Session of the CECAF Committee is an important forum through which we, the Member Nations, Associate Members, the CECAF Secretariat as well as other distinguished stakeholders can exchange ideas and experiences on what has worked in the past and how to further achieve progress in our region in the future.
Finally, as CECAF Member State, we believe that with these regular gatherings of experts and scientists to discuss scientific interventions in managing our shared stocks provides multiple opportunities to achieve progress from all relevant angles, which attests to CECAF’s comprehensive, inclusive and diversified approach to its operations.
We look forward to more of these meetings and Liberia will remain committed to cooperating with her international partners in supporting such initiative. We can assure you of our compliance to applicable policies and regulations as well as best practice emanating from these meetings, in order to sustainably manage our shared fish stocks. Remember, fish have no borders!
Once again, on behalf of H.E., the President, and in my own name, I wish you all a fruitful deliberation and a pleasant stay in Liberia.
We therefore declare this 23rd CECAF meeting officially opened!
I THANK YOU.