FAO.org

During the week of 20-24 February 2020, FAO facilitated an interagency workshop in Monrovia, Liberia, as part of a capacity-building programme to help the country meet its obligations in implementing the FAO Agreement on Port State Measures (PSMA) and complementary international instruments.

Liberia adhered to the PSMA in May 2019. 

Representatives from the fisheries, maritime, port, health, customs, immigration, coastguard, commerce, justice, and agriculture authorities, as well as persons from two private enterprises, actively participated during the week.

Taking advantage of the presence at Bong Mines Pier of a foreign flagged refrigerated cargo vessel (reefer) discharging catches transhipped from fishing vessels in Guinea Bissau, the workshop used the vessel arrival as a PSMA implementation case study.

The participants found this a highly valuable experience, during which a great deal was learnt about the relevance and value of interagency cooperation, collaboration and information exchange.