By: James Myking Suah
GRAND CESS – The President of the Collaborative Management Association (CMA) in Grand Kru County District #1, Henry K. Pelenah, has issued a stern warning to Liberian fishermen against selling motorized outboard engines donated by the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) to foreign nationals.
Speaking in a telephone interview on Monday, Pelenah emphasized that these engines were explicitly provided to empower local fishermen, enhance safety at sea, and boost catch volumes for Liberian communities. He stressed that the equipment was never intended for resale to non-Liberians operating within the county’s territorial waters. He noted that the outboard engines represent critical government support meant to sustain Liberian livelihoods, and selling them to foreign fishermen completely defeats the purpose while undermining ongoing efforts to build the domestic fishing industry.
Through its World Bank-funded Liberia Sustainable Management of Fisheries Project, NaFAA has been distributing outboard engines, nets, and safety gear to CMAs across coastal counties. The initiative aims to reduce illegal fishing while strengthening artisanal, small-scale fisheries. Pelenah urged all CMA members to remain vigilant and report anyone caught selling or transferring the donated equipment. He warned that violators would face severe sanctions, including immediate removal from beneficiary lists and potential legal action under NaFAA regulations.
The CMA president disclosed that several NaFAA-donated outboard engines have already been retrieved from Fanti and Ivorian fishermen operating illegally in Liberia’s southeastern waters. Specifically, he alleged that a Fanti fisherman, identified as Bleeco Brown, purchased a Yamaha engine from a Liberian fisherman in the Garraway Administrative District. Brown was subsequently intercepted by fisheries authorities while attempting to transport the engine across the border into the neighboring Ivory Coast.
Pelenah described these reports as heartbreaking, noting that they undermine the intensive efforts of the national government and its development partners to provide logistics to fishermen and fishmongers across coastal counties. He explained that taxes and revenues collected from fishing communities are directly reinvested into their operations through the supply of nets, life jackets, engines, and capacity-building programs.
According to Pelenah, NaFAA previously distributed 32 outboard engines to tax-compliant fishing communities and cooperatives. He emphasized that beneficiaries must remain in good standing with the government regarding tax compliance to support national revenue collection for broader development. While distributions of fishing nets, life jackets, and other gear are scheduled to take place shortly, priority will be strictly given to fishermen with clean tax records. He criticized the practice of some local fishermen who expect to benefit from government programs while failing to pay their taxes, calling it unfair to the state.
To curb further abuse, the CMA president called on NaFAA and the Liberia Coast Guard to immediately intensify their monitoring and surveillance operations at landing sites in Grand Cess, Picnicess, and surrounding coastal communities to prevent any future illegal transfers of donated equipment.
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