Liberia: Korean Fishermen Encroachment On The Liberian Waters Pose Devastating Toll On The Countrys Natural Resources-----Rev. Blamo. The encroachment of Korean fishermen on the Liberian waters continues to not only leave a bloody nose on their local counterparts but also pose devastating toll on the countrys natural resources. From Monrovia the New Democrat In Monrovia reports------Local fishermen report that industrial trawlers mainly from Korea regularly encroach upon the Liberian waters - destroying fishing nets, and attacking the locals by ramming their boats and physically accosting them. They also devastate vulnerable underwater environments that allow fish to reproduce. The ugly situation began when the government, through the National Bureau of Fisheries, developed a fishery regulation in 2010, establishing the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) from three nautical miles to six nautical miles. The IEZ is an area along the coast reserved for local fishermen. But Korean fishermen have been coming into the IEZ zone to steal what is locally known as cassava fish which is reportedly in high demand on the European market. Industrial fishing interests have approached the Government with the request to reduce the Inshore Exclusion Zone (IEZ) by 50%. The Liberian Artisanal Fishermens Association (LAFA), the umbrella organization of local fishermen, forcefully opposed the requests by industrial fishing boats to reduce protections on local fishermen. Liberia, like other coastal West African countries, relies on fishing as a major employment opportunity and source of protein. Local fishermen say the artisanal fishing sector employs 33,000 Liberians. Meanwhile, the Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF), a watchdog protecting the people and the planet with offices in Liberia, reports that in West Africa, over 40% of animal protein comes from fish. But this is under threat, says EJF. Fishermen warn that the heavy machine used by the industrial fishing boats were also destroying the seabeds and the ecosystem that the fish largely depends on. They say the extension of the IEZ in 2011 brought some respite and led to improved catches, benefiting both fishermen and those who consume fish. Alfred N. Kawreh, president of the Liberia Artisanal Fishermen Association (LAFA), voiced out his members concerns, LAFA strongly protests against this request. Industrial trawlers have been causing problems in the artisanal fishing sector for years. They over exploit our resources; they cause conflict on the water by destroying our fishing gears and even attacking artisanal fishermen. The IEZ has offered us some protection to be able to access our own resources, supply the national market and feed our families. We will not stand by and let the situation return to what it used to be.
Posted on: Fri, 09 May 2014 02:14:34 +0000
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