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Liberia reaches settlement agreement with tuna purse seiner organisations after investigation of their activities in the Liberian EEZ

In February this year Stop Illegal Fishing published an article titled Illegal fishing in West Africa which described an on-going investigation into the activities of a number of foreign flagged vessels, in Liberian waters. As a working group of the Partnership for African Fisheries (PAF) of the NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA), SIF is pleased to report that the matter has been settled. These investigations have since been concluded and the Liberian government has reached an agreement with the tuna purse seiner organisations. The official press release from the Minister of Agriculture regarding the settlement has been published on the Bureau of National Fisheries (BNF) website, and can be read below.

Press Release by the Minister of Agriculture, Republic of Liberia, Florence A. Chenoweth on the settlement agreements reached with Tuna purse seiner organisations for their activities in the Liberian Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

August 23, 2012

On 1st January 2011, the Government of Liberia introduced the Liberia Fisheries Regulations of 2010. This legal framework provides a new structure for fisheries management in Liberia, and includes new terms and conditions to grant fishing licences. On January 19th, 2011, a moratorium on all commercial fishing activities was introduced in Liberia; this was subsequently lifted later that year, however to date only demersal vessels have been licensed.

In late 2011, the Liberian Bureau of National Fisheries (BNF) of the Ministry of Agriculture identified that several tuna purse seine vessels of various nationalities were operating within the Liberia Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ).

Investigation and review of the operations of these vessels were carried out. Cooperation and assistance from the Ivory Coast, Mozambique, the Fishery Committee for the West Central Gulf of Guinea (FCWC) and the European Commission were requested and given. Further assistance was requested from the Flag States France, Spain, Cape Verde, Netherlands Antilles, Curacao, Panama, Guatemala and Belize. In addition to fishing activities within the Liberia EEZ, it was identified that the vessels were operating under various fraudulent licenses.

In response to appeals for out of court settlements, four separate negotiated settlements for those vessels represented by the Spanish organisations ANABAC (Asociacion Nacional de Armadores de Buques Atuneros Congeladores) and OPAGAC (Organizacion de Productores Asociados de Grandes Atuneros Congeladores), French organisation ORTHONGEL (Organization des producteurs de Thon Congele et Surgele) and for vessels owned by Pioneer Food Canary, Ltd./MW Brands, have now been agreed and settled with the Government of Liberia.

The negotiated amounts are recognised as payment for the expected price of the licences for the year 2011, as well as further compensation levied by the government of Liberia for late payment and‚ involuntary‚ violations of the 2010 Liberian Fisheries Regulations, specifically related to licensing in the Liberian Economic Exclusive Zone (EEZ) up to the July 2012 date of those Decisions. This settlement exonerates the vessels in question of further charges relating to the period in question, and concludes the investigation into their activities to the satisfaction of the Government of Liberia.

The Liberian Bureau of National Fisheries and Ministry of Agriculture are now looking forward working with ANABAC, OPAGAC, MW Brands/Pioneer Food Canary, Ltd., ORTHONGEL and other organizations towards the long-term development of a successful fishing industry in Liberia, which will include a multi-year agreement for their fishing operations. Once finalised, licensed vessels will appear on the official license list, which will be available on the BNF website www.liberiafisheries.net .

The BNF will report the outcome of the Settlement Agreements to the flag States of the vessels, to the European Commission and also to other States that have cooperated in the investigations, including the United Kingdom, Ivory Coast, and Mozambique.

We extend our sincere gratitude to all our international partners, especially the European Commission, United Kingdom, regional fisheries management organizations and all flag and port states which supported this effort. We will rely upon your continued support in an effort to maximize Liberia’s benefit from her fisheries resources.

I thank you.

Dr. Florence A. Chenoweth

MINISTER

Ministry of Agriculture

Source: http://liberiafisheries.com/sites/default/files/pdf/Minister%20Press%20Release.pdf