Liberia to host first national fisheries investment conference to attract capital to marine sector

LIBERIA – Liberia will host its first National Fisheries Investment Conference on March 30–31 at the Farmington Hotel in Margibi County as the country seeks to attract investment into its marine sector and expand its blue economy, according to an announcement by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority.

The two-day event is expected to bring together government officials, investors, development agencies and fisheries specialists to discuss opportunities across fisheries, aquaculture and seafood processing.

The initiative was introduced during a press briefing at the Ministry of Information by J. Cyrus Saygbe Sr., Director General of the fisheries authority. 

He said the conference will highlight Liberia’s largely underutilised marine resources and present investment opportunities to strengthen the sector.

Liberia’s waters are estimated to contain about 254,000 metric tons of deep-water fish stocks and another 94,000 metric tons of species found closer to the surface. 

However, current annual catches reach only around 53,000 metric tons. 

About 17,000 metric tons of that volume is linked to the international tuna industry operating in the country’s waters.

According to Saygbe, the conference will help connect investors with government institutions and private sector partners interested in expanding fisheries and aquaculture activities.

Investment proposals to expand seafood value chain

Organisers plan to present three major investment proposals designed to strengthen Liberia’s seafood value chain and increase domestic participation in industrial fishing.

One proposal involves establishing a Liberian-owned industrial fishing fleet through partnerships with private companies. 

Another focuses on constructing a dedicated fishing port and dry-dock facility so that vessels operating in Liberia no longer need to travel to neighbouring countries such as Ghana or Senegal for servicing and maintenance.

A third initiative outlines plans to develop an industrial-scale aquaculture farm in Nimba County, with additional sites proposed in three other counties to increase domestic fish production.

During the conference, Joseph Boakai, President of Liberia, is expected to unveil three policy documents intended to guide sector growth. 

These include a ten-year fisheries development strategy, a public-private partnership framework and a national fisheries investment plan.

Technology and regional cooperation

The conference program will feature nine discussion panels addressing fisheries governance, aquaculture investment, seafood processing, climate resilience and technology adoption, and access to regional and international seafood markets.

Organisers say specialists from Slovenia will present the Blue Trapper monitoring system, designed to detect illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. 

Representatives from Morocco and other countries are also expected to share experience in seafood processing and value addition.

The event will also include a “Blue Marketplace” where researchers and entrepreneurs will display marine species and aquaculture products, including tilapia and catfish.

Ahead of the conference, the fisheries authority plans to host a Fish Market Day on March 14 in Monrovia, where around 50 women traders will sell seafood products such as lobster, crab, tilapia and catfish directly to consumers.

Liberia’s government sees the conference as part of broader efforts to unlock the economic potential of the country’s marine resources while improving investment flows into fisheries infrastructure, aquaculture and seafood value chains.

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