[8:20 PM, 9/1/2026] +231 77 030 9963: MONROVIA, Liberia. The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) has started efforts to bring technical and vocational training into the fisheries sector. The goal is to help young Liberians gain real-world skills and open up paths for jobs and business ownership.
On Tuesday, September 1, 2026, NaFAA held its first Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Fisheries Roundtable in Monrovia. The meeting brought together government leaders, fisheries professionals, academics and development partners. They discussed how vocational training can match the needs of Liberia’s growing fisheries and aquaculture industries.
This effort goes beyond job placement. It aims to prepare people to become skilled workers, service providers and business owners in the fisheries value chain.
Training could cover areas. These include boat and canoe building repairing outboard engines making and fixing fishing nets producing fish feed building fish ponds, processing and packing fish using refrigeration and cold-chain systems, running aquaculture farms and building and maintaining fishing equipment.
NaFAA says this initiative is especially important because many tools and services used in the fisheries industry are still imported. Experts rely on help for repairs and technical support. By building skills Liberia could reduce its dependence on foreign expertise and create opportunities for homegrown businesses.
The plan includes a skills-to-enterprise pathway. This means linking training and certification to apprenticeships, business incubation, mentorship, funding and access to markets. Officials say this will help young people move from learning to earning—turning skills into livelihoods.
As part of the process NaFAA and its partners will look at existing skill gaps check what jobs are needed see how interested young people are examine training facilities and explore private-sector opportunities across the fisheries and aquaculture chains.
This assessment might also help identify spots for new fisheries-focused TVET hubs. These centers could offer hands-on training and apprenticeship chances.
Deputy Minister for TVET at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Hon. Laraamand S. Nyonton, welcomed the idea. He said his ministry is ready to work with NaFAA to connect TVET plans with productive economic sectors.
Development partners working on European Union-supported projects in Liberia also backed the push. They said they are eager to help assess skills needs and support enterprise growth.
The program is not limited to Monrovia. NaFAA has identified training opportunities in both inland areas.
In communities young people could learn boat construction, engine repair making fishing gear, handling fish processing it and managing cold storage. Inland areas could focus on raising fish in ponds making fish feed, managing water and transporting fish safely.
NaFAA says this initiative fits into Liberia’s Blue Economy agenda. That vision seeks to grow opportunities in fisheries and aquaculture, through education, entrepreneurship, new technology and private investment.
Tuesday’s roundtable was the starting point.. Its partners now plan to pick priority trades study available training options map demand and build a roadmap to roll out fisheries-focused TVET and business development.
The long-term hope is to create a workforce. These workers would not take jobs but also start businesses and create more jobs throughout Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture value chains.