HOW TO FIGHT ILLEGAL FISHING
On the shore of the Liberian fishing town Robertsport, Wilson Weah prepares his narrow wooden canoe for a night’s fishing. Pointing out to the sea, he comments: ‘We used to see big trawlers on the horizon emptying the ocean and cutting through our nets, but since our coastguard started inspections at sea we catch more fish again.’
The fishers from Robertsport go out alone or in groups with their colourfully painted canoes. Weah, who is the head of the local fishers co-operative, says: ‘Everybody here lives from fishing to support their families and to pay for their children’s school fees.’
Liberia has the longest coastline in West Africa and the government wants to improve food security and ensure the livelihoods of the country’s 33,000 fisherfolk.
In February 2017 the Liberian army started joint at-sea patrols with the ocean conservation organization Sea Shepherd. The organization provides the Liberian coastguard with a ship, small boats and a
