The Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF) said a recent executive order signed by the Liberian government to cut the country’s inshore exclusive zone (IEZ) -- reserved for artisanal vessels -- could put local communities at risk.
The Liberian government signed the executive order to reduce the area restricted for artisanal fishermen from six nautical miles to three nautical miles.on April 22, taking another step forward toward the implementation of the plans.
“Reducing the exclusion zone would see an almost inevitable rise of competition from foreign industrial vessels fishing in coastal waters,” said the EJF.
“It could put the livelihoods of the 33,000 people who rely on this industry at risk.”
The order is not definitive, and the government has not issued an implementation plan yet.
“We are hoping that the government could still reconsider the decision -- particularly given the opposition from local fishing communities,” the EFJ said.
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