By James T. Brooks
Monrovia, Liberia — Addressing the first National Fisheries Investment Conference Liberia 2026, representatives from the World Bank joined President Joseph Nyuma Boakai, senior government officials, and international stakeholders to celebrate the strategic transformation of Liberia’s maritime and aquaculture sectors. The conference served as a high-level platform to reaffirm a shared global commitment to advancing sustainable fisheries, a sector that currently employs an estimated 62 million people worldwide.
The World Bank highlighted its ongoing role in promoting enhanced fisheries management and fish value chains, emphasizing the importance of climate-smart innovations in aquaculture to provide food security and sustainable employment. Since 2021, the World Bank has partnered with the Government of Liberia to develop a sector trajectory that is fundamentally people-centered. This approach places coastal communities, artisanal fishers, women, and youth at the core of decision-making processes. The primary objective of this support is to empower the Liberian people, manage marine resources effectively, and create resilient jobs that allow communities to thrive despite a changing climate.
A central theme of the address was the decisive shift toward mobilizing private investment. Experts noted that such investments are critical for generating revenue, fostering economic growth, and building long-term national wealth. Furthermore, private sector engagement creates the necessary incentives to manage fish stocks and aquaculture assets sustainably, ensuring the financial viability of the sector for future generations.
In collaboration with the Government of Liberia, the World Bank is driving this transformation through the Liberia Sustainable Management Fisheries Project. Five key elements were identified as essential to making the sector “investment ready.” First is the investment in human capital through the new fisheries academic program at the University of Liberia. Supported by modern infrastructure, this program is already training a new generation of fisheries professionals who will lead the industry’s technical and administrative functions.
Second, the World Bank is actively engaging with stakeholders by providing aquaculture farmers and women entrepreneurs with grants and training in finance, sustainability, and modern business practices. This support ensures that local actors are positioned to participate meaningfully in emerging markets. Third, the bank highlighted catalytic investments such as the new Klay hatchery and the “Sea King”—Liberia’s first fiberglass semi-industrial fishing vessel—alongside an incubator program for modernizing local canoes. These initiatives serve as a dynamic engine for growth and attract further private interest.
Fourth, the modernization of the sector is being accelerated through digitization. The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has transitioned into a one-stop service center for fishers and processors, while simultaneously strengthening monitoring and surveillance systems to improve transparency and governance. Finally, the development of a comprehensive fisheries and aquaculture strategy, underpinned by a public-private partnership framework, was identified as vital for sending clear, credible signals to the global market regarding Liberia’s readiness for large-scale investment.
The World Bank extended hearty congratulations to Director General Emma Metieh Glassco and the NaFAA team for their leadership in organizing the high-potential event. As the conference concluded, the consensus among delegates was that Liberia’s fisheries sector is officially on the rise, successfully balancing the safeguarding of marine wealth with the urgent need for national economic growth and job creation.