Directors, technicians, partners, and donors from member countries of the Fisheries Committee for West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) gathered in Monrovia on Wednesday, December 11, 2024, for the official opening of the 15th Ministerial Fisheries Conference.
This three-day event, taking place at a local hotel and culminating in a ministerial meeting on Friday, December 13, 2024, at the Ministerial Complex in Congo Town, aims to tackle pressing issues and promote regional cooperation in fisheries management.
In his welcoming address, Hon. William Y. Boeh, Deputy Director General for Technical Services of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, highlighted the significance of the conference for Liberia, which is set to assume the FCWC chairmanship. He described the conference as a critical opportunity to develop actionable strategies and strengthen regional collaboration.
“This event is a defining moment for Liberia. By assuming the FCWC Chairmanship, we demonstrate our unwavering commitment to regional leadership and collaboration. We are honored to serve as a hub for these important discussions and work alongside our fellow member states to drive meaningful progress,” stated Hon. Boeh.
Hon. Boeh also acknowledged the diverse composition of delegates, which included regional leaders, technical experts, policymakers, and partners committed to safeguarding fisheries resources in the West Central Gulf of Guinea. He outlined the region’s key challenges, including overfishing, illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, climate change, and governance gaps, all threatening food security.
Fred Antwi-Boadu, Executive Director of the Ghana Fisheries Commission and Chairman of the Advisory and Coordinating Committee, formally opened the conference. He emphasized the importance of strengthening cooperation among the six FCWC member countries.
“Our focus is to promote decent work and sustainable practices within the fisheries sector while enhancing the resilience of our marine ecosystems. These objectives are interconnected, as our oceans’ health directly impacts our people’s prosperity,” Mr. Antwi-Boadu remarked.
He further stressed the sector’s vital role in providing livelihoods, ensuring food security, and contributing to the regional economy.
During the technical sessions leading up to the ministerial meeting, FCWC Secretary-General Antoine Gaston Djihinto discussed the fishing sector’s challenges, such as economic impacts, social welfare, and marine ecosystem preservation.
“These issues are not just concerns of the present but also reflect our responsibility toward future generations,” Djihinto noted. He called for integrated, responsible, and sustainable governance of fisheries resources, emphasizing the need for rational exploitation, resource conservation, and equitable socio-economic benefits for regional communities.
The Secretary-General referred to the Advisory and Coordinating Committee session as a crucial platform for dialogue and solution-oriented discussions. “I am confident that your informed contributions, grounded in your expertise, will help formulate robust and pragmatic recommendations for the Conference of Ministers,” Djihinto stated.
