Despite hosting the world’s largest ship registry by tonnage and possessing a rapidly expanding fisheries sector, Liberia has yet to see meaningful benefits for its citizens, according to Ocean Lawyer John Saylay Singbae II.
Speaking to reporters on Monday, June 2, 2025, at the ongoing Ocean Governance Seminar in Monrovia, Singbae described the country’s ocean governance framework as fragmented, with various government institutions operating in isolation rather than in a unified manner.
“There’s no coordinated effort,” he said. “If everyone is doing their own thing, it essentially means no one is doing anything. Liberia urgently needs a comprehensive ocean policy—a marine framework that works for all.”
Singbae emphasized that without coordination, Liberia risks losing the advantages of its prominent maritime status. He noted that the current seminar and the upcoming National Stakeholders’ Conference, scheduled for Friday, June 6, 2025, are designed to begin addressing the policy and structural gaps hindering sustainable ocean management.
The seminar is a collaborative initiative led by the Department of Aquaculture and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Liberia, the Cavalla Institute of Ocean Governance, in partnership with Youth Exploring Solutions (YES), , and other key institutions. It is supported by the Swedish Embassy in and Conservation International (CI).
Participants include representatives from coastal communities as well as academic institutions such as the University of Liberia (UL), African Methodist Episcopal University (AMEU), African Methodist Episcopal Zion University (AMEZU), and Cuttington University (CU).
“This is the beginning of a broader movement toward ocean sustainability in Liberia,” Singbae explained. “We have a strong and growing fisheries sector. But for it to remain viable and benefit future generations, we must adopt a strategic, coordinated approach.”
He also underscored the need for collaboration among key national institutions including the National Oil Company of Liberia (NOCAL), the Liberia Maritime Authority, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Ministry of Transport, and the Coast Guard.
Beyond institutional coordination, Singbae highlighted the importance of public awareness and education about ocean issues. He further stressed the need to incorporate ocean literacy in our education system.
“This seminar is also about raising basic ocean literacy,” he said. “We need to help ordinary people understand how the ocean impacts their daily lives—and how their actions, in turn, affect the ocean. It’s about guiding them through the governance process in a way that’s accessible and inclusive.”
