Liberia Unveils Digital Fisheries Management System
– To Boost Revenue, Protect Marine Resources
By Godgift Harris
Liberia has launched the Fisheries Integrated Management System (FIMS), a state-of-the-art digital platform aimed at transforming the country’s fisheries sector through improved monitoring, data management, and revenue generation.
The launch ceremony, held at the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) headquarters in Monrovia, brought together senior government officials, development partners, private sector representatives, and fishing community leaders.
The Liberia Revenue Authority (LRA) Commissioner General, James Dorbor Jallah, hailed the initiative as a “milestone for fisheries and national revenue,” saying it ushers in a new era of sustainable marine resource management.
“For too long, the absence of a robust, integrated system meant our fisheries sector despite its enormous potential has not delivered its full value to the nation,” Jallah said.
“Weak data systems, manual processes, and monitoring gaps have left us vulnerable to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, as well as loss of revenue.”
The new FIMS platform will provide real-time data on vessel licensing, catch volumes, export values, and operator compliance.
It will also digitize vessel registration and payments, track fishing activities, improve traceability for fish products, and integrate scientific stock data to inform both fisheries policy and national revenue planning.
By linking FIMS with the LRA’s Tax Administration System, the Liberia Coast Guard, Customs, and the National Port Authority, the government expects to enhance transparency, strengthen enforcement, and reduce revenue leakages.
“When we close the information gap, we also close the revenue gap,” Jallah emphasized, noting that accurate data collection will allow the government to align fishing license fees with international market values.
The Commissioner General pointed to international examples, citing Namibia’s 40% increase in annual fisheries revenue within three years of adopting a similar platform, and Ghana’s success in reducing illegal fishing losses by integrating fisheries data with customs and port inspections.
Jallah outlined key steps for ensuring the system’s success, including, Capacity building through continuous staff training;
Stakeholder sensitization to ensure fishing communities and exporters understand the benefits; data-driven policy to guide license fees and seasonal fishing limits;
Regional cooperation to combat cross-border illegal fishing, sustainable financing from fisheries revenue to maintain and upgrade the system.
“Fisheries are not just about fish they are about jobs, nutrition, trade, and national wealth,” Jallah said, stressing that FIMS will help attract investment and align Liberia’s practices with international fisheries commitments.
He closed his address with an African proverb: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.”
He added that NaFAA, the LRA, and Liberia’s development partners are united in their commitment to protecting marine resources for future generations.
The launch was described as a major collaborative effort between NaFAA, the LRA, and international partners, signaling a coordinated push to modernize Liberia’s fisheries sector and maximize its economic potential while safeguarding sustainability.