GREENVILLE, Sinoe – The county coordinator of the National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority in Sinoe says local fishermen need capacity building in production management, especially as they continue to battle the dangerous effects of climate change to the marine ecosystem.

NaFAA’s Andrew Doe made the comments recently at a weather data and forecasting interpretation training organized by the German Aid Group Welthungerhilfe (World Hunger Aid) in Greenville, Sinoe.

Capacity building has become a major component of the country’s fishery sector in light of the many challenges, including lack of safety jackets, administrative and other support crucial to the works of the local NaFAA office in Sinoe.

Welthungerhilfe’s acting project director, George Cooper, who gave an overview of the training, informed the audience that its goal was to provide participants with knowledge and skills about how to interpret weather and climate data, in addition to preventing climate change, reducing its effects, and managing daily fishery production.

“We have observed the danger climate change has on Liberia, especially when it comes to our forest and marine resources,” he said. “Shifting cultivation, unsustainable logging practices, including unregulated coastal mining, are among the main activities that accelerate the effects of climate change in Liberia.”

Cooper also underscored the need for local fishermen to take full ownership and control of the fisheries sector as an important community livelihood source, but also a key government revenue generation source. The German group has since provided speed boats to two fishing communities in Sinoe alone and is currently working on a fish processing and storage facility in the county.

Participants of WHH capacity building training on climate change. Photo: Teahwleh Geeplay.

Participants at the capacity development training praised Welthungerhilfe for its continued support while stressing the need for more direct capacity-building support to local actors, instead of via the central government.

The German aid group works in three southeastern counties – Grand Gedeh, Sinoe, and River Cess – to prevent and control climate and its effects in Liberia. The group is supported by the German Federal Ministry.

Featured photo by Teahwleh Geeplay