IPNEWS: The National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority (NaFAA) today convened its first Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) in Fisheries Roundtable, bringing together key government institutions, academia, development partners, and NaFAA technical leadership to explore new pathways for youth skills development, employment, entrepreneurship, and private-sector growth across Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture value chains.
The roundtable, chaired by NaFAA Senior Management, brought together the Ministry of Youth and Sports Deputy Minister for TVET, Hon. Laraamand S. Nyonton, and his technical team; the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Sciences; teams from the EU-supported Strengthening Artisanal Fisheries and Private Sector Development Projects; and NaFAA Technical Directors.
The discussions focused on transforming fisheries into a stronger platform for skills development and enterprise creation, particularly for young people in Liberia’s coastal and inland counties.
Participants explored practical TVET opportunities including:
Canoe and fiberglass boat production
Outboard engine repair and maintenance
Fishing net and gear production
Fish feed production
Fish pond construction and maintenance
Improved fish smoking oven fabrication
Locally made cooling and fish preservation systems
Fish processing, packaging and value addition
Aquaculture production and related technical services
Cold-chain and fisheries equipment services
A key message emerging from the discussions was that TVET must go beyond training and certification. Young people should be supported through a complete skills-to-enterprise pathway—from training and apprenticeship to business incubation, access to finance, mentorship, and market linkages.
Speaking at the roundtable, Hon. Laraamand S. Nyonton, Deputy Minister for TVET at the Ministry of Youth and Sports, expressed appreciation to NaFAA for convening the engagement and emphasized the Ministry’s readiness to scale up the discussions and work toward tangible next steps.
The EU-supported project teams also welcomed the initiative and expressed their willingness to collaborate with NaFAA and the Ministry of Youth and Sports on a comprehensive assessment to identify skills gaps, market opportunities, youth interests, existing facilities, private-sector demand, and appropriate training and incubation models.
The goal is clear:
Train. Incubate. Finance. Connect to Markets. Build Businesses. Create Jobs.
NaFAA believes that Liberia’s fisheries and aquaculture sector can become a powerful engine for youth employment, entrepreneurship, innovation, and inclusive Blue Economy development.
The future of fisheries is not only about catching and producing fish it is also about building the skills, businesses, technologies, and entrepreneurs that will drive the sector forward.
