National Fisheries and Aquaculture Act.

This Act provides a framework for the formulation of policy and the transparent and accountable management of the fisheries and aquaculture sectors. The objective of the Act is to ensure the long-term management, conservation, development and sustainable use of the fisheries and aquaculture resources and related ecosystems for the benefit of the people of the Republic of Liberia. It recognizes the need to comprehensively regulate and control fishing and related activities within the areas under national jurisdiction of the Republic of Liberia to combat illegal fishing and related activities and to enforce applicable conservation and management measures within and beyond the Fisheries Waters in accordance with the laws of the Republic of Liberia and its obligations under regional fisheries management organizations or arrangements and international law. The Act shall apply to all fisheries in Liberian waters and to all Liberian fishing vessels in relation to any areas within or beyond national jurisdiction in so far as this is not in conflict with the jurisdiction of another State. Guiding principles of the Act include, amongst others, social sustainably of use (respecting also customary rights and subsistence fishing) and the precautionary and ecosystem approaches responding to international standards. It shall apply to all fishing and related activities and any other activity or matter falling within the scope of this Act and its Implementing Regulation. "Related activities" includes: (a) storing, transhipping, processing or transporting fish or fish products up to the time they are first landed; (b) on-shore storing. buying, or processing fish or fish products from the time they are first landed; (c) refuelling or supplying fishing vessels, selling or supplying fishing equipment or performing other activities in support of fishing operations; (d) exporting fish or fish products from the country.
The Act establishes the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority of Liberia. The Authority shall be a body corporate and autonomous agency of the Government and shall be under the general supervision and direction of the Director General. The Authority shall be governed by a Board of Directors. There shall be a National Fisheries and Aquaculture Policy, which shall be prepared by the Director General and approved by the Cabinet. It shall be reviewed every five years. The Act defines functions of the Authority and duties and powers of the Director General and the Board.
Co-Management Fisheries and Aquaculture Associations may be established in accordance with this Act and its Implementing Regulations for the purpose of exercising rights and responsibilities within a designated area relating to information and decision making for fisheries and aquaculture conservation, management and sustainable use. The Authority shall adopt conservation and management measures taking into account consultations with stakeholders. Instruments of implementation of such measures are, amongst others, Fisheries and Aquaculture Management Plans for any fishery or area in the Fisheries Waters. Such plans shall be adopted by the Authority. subsistence fishing does not require an authorization but may be limited for reasons of health, environmental protection or fisheries conservation and management. Artisanal fishing may be carried out only by Liberian citizens who hold a valid and applicable artisanal fishing license and artisanal fishing vessel registration. The Inshore Exclusion Zone shall be reserved solely for the use of subsistence, artisanal and semi-industrial fishing activities. The Authority may, in accordance with the objective and principles of this Act, by public notice establish aquaculture, marine and inland fishing zones based on the types of fishery. The Authority shall designate landing sites for use by local fishing vessels and ports for use by all industrial fishing vessels and all foreign fishing vessels. The Authority shall develop strategies, guidelines, plans, regulations, etc. for inland fisheries. The Authority may also, in consultation with other authorities, establish Special Management Ares for, amongst others, the conservation of ecosystems and local fishing communities and for community co-management.
The Authority may consult with the Environment Protection Agency pursuant to Environmental Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia to promote the issuance of guidelines and prescription of measures for the protection of rivers, lakes, and wetlands and in collaboration with the Environment Protection Agency and after consultations with the Board and relevant communities, propose that any area of a river, lake or wetlands be declared a Protected Area in accordance with the Environmental Protection and Management Law of the Republic of Liberia. The Director general may, in accordance with this Act, grant access to foreign fishing vessels in the Fisheries Waters for fishing or fishing related activities.