The Vice President of Liberia Jeremiah Kpan Koung on Monday, November 24, 2025, officially commissioned ‘Sea King’, the country’s first semi-industrial fiberglass fishing vessel.
The ceremony, held at the Mesurado Pier, signaled the Unity Party administration’s intensified drive to modernize the fisheries sector, expand local economic opportunities, and reduce Liberia’s reliance on imported fish.
Cutting the ribbon to launch the state-of-the-art vessel, Vice President Koung emphasized that the government is committed to revitalizing the sector and ensuring that Liberia fully benefits from the wealth within its territorial waters.
“The Sea King will support increased fish harvests, reduce dependence on imported fish, and ensure that more of the wealth generated from our waters stays in our communities,” Koung stated.
He underscored that the commissioning represents a major boost for coastal livelihoods and a clear demonstration of the government’s dedication to economic transformation.
The launch of Sea King coincided with the introduction of 23 modern fiberglasses Kru and Fanti canoes-all locally fabricated, positioning Liberia on a new path toward safer, more efficient, and environmentally friendly fishing practices.
NaFAA’s Acting Director General, J. Cyrus Saygbe, hailed the moment as a “national awakening,” asserting that the government is not only unveiling a vessel but “launching a new maritime destiny” for Liberia. Built with advanced Glass Reinforced Plastic technology, Sea King marks a significant upgrade in durability, sustainability, and productivity within Liberia’s fisheries sector.
Under Saygbe’s leadership, NaFAA has intensified reforms aligned with the Government of Liberia’s ARREST Development Strategy.
His administration has strengthened monitoring, control, and surveillance through a new Quartermaster System, revitalized the Fisheries Information Management System, established a Department of Environment & Climate Change, and launched a National Aquaculture Database to guide policy and planning.
NaFAA is also developing a 10-Year Fisheries Strategic Plan, a National Fisheries & Aquaculture Investment Plan, and a National Aquaculture Strategy, all geared toward moving the sector from subsistence to commercial and industrial viability.
Work on the Klay Aquaculture Center of Excellence has resumed, and designs are underway for a US$26 million Industrial Fishing Port. Decentralization efforts continue as well, with NaFAA set to open its first Regional Office in Harper by 2026, while the revival of the long-abandoned Fisheries Complex is ongoing.
Community-focused initiatives are also accelerating. Over 500 fish farmers have been trained, 17 FAO-supported fish processing hubs have been constructed, and over 1,400 women in fisheries have received grants through World Bank–funded programs.
Saygbe praised development partners, including the World Bank, FAO, and Conservation International, for their contributions to the sector’s progress. To further ease the financial burden on fisherfolk, the government has announced major reductions in annual licensing fees beginning January 1, 2026.
Canoe operators will now pay US$30, motorized canoes with 1–15 horsepower will pay US$175, and those between 16–40 horsepower will pay US$350-a decision Saygbe described as evidence that “the government listens to its people.”
World Bank Country Manager, Madam Georgia Wallen, applauded the commissioning as “an exciting and momentous milestone,” adding that Liberia’s fisheries sector is “clearly on the rise” due to strong government ownership and effective partnerships.
With Sea King now sailing and modernized canoes ready for deployment, Liberia’s fisheries sector is embracing a new era of innovation, resilience, and national pride, one that Vice President Koung has firmly anchored with his commissioning of the country’s most advanced vessel to date.
