The Director General of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA), J. Cyrus Saygbe, Sr., has concluded a one-week official working visit to the Kingdom of Morocco.
The visit aimed to strengthen bilateral cooperation, attract investment, and advance Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture development agenda.
While on the tour, Mr. Saygbe participated in the Sea Safety for Fisheries Workshop.
The workshop was organized by the Ministerial Conference on Fisheries Cooperation Among African States Bordering the Atlantic Ocean (ATLAFCO) in Tangier, where he emphasized the need for stronger regional coordination and a collective African approach to improve safety at sea for fisherfolks.
Saygbe also traveled to Rabat and Casablanca, where he held high-level discussions with Morocco’s Minister of State for Fisheries, Zakia Driouch, and Hassan Sentissi El Idrissi, President of the Association of Moroccan Exporters (ASMEX).
According to a release, discussions with the Moroccan government focused on strengthening cooperation in fisheries stock assessment, technical and vocational training for Liberian fisheries and aquaculture professionals, fisheries value addition, and the development of fisheries landing sites in Liberia.
Both countries are meanwhile, expected to formalize these commitments through a cooperation agreement scheduled for signing in July, 2026.
Meetings with Moroccan private sector representatives explored opportunities to mobilize financing for the construction of Liberia’s first industrial fishing port, the development of an industrial fishing fleet beginning with two shrimp fishing vessels, and investments in aquaculture and inland fisheries development.
Saygbe also met with representatives of Green Table, whose CEO expressed interest in serving as a potential off-taker of fisheries products harvested in Liberia, opening new prospects for market access and fisheries exports.
As part of the visit, Mr. Saygbe toured Morocco’s National Fishing Vessel Monitoring Center to gain insights into advanced vessel monitoring technologies and fisheries surveillance systems used to combat Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing.
The visit forms part of Liberia’s efforts to implement commitments emerging from the Fisheries and Aquaculture Investment Conference held from March 30–31, 2026, and to strengthen international partnerships that support sustainable fisheries management, food security, job creation and blue economy development.