Steve Trent is CEO has more than 30 years' experience in environmental and human rights campaigning. He also co-founded WildAid, serving as president for over a decade and leading WildAid’s work in China and India.

This presentation examines the Environmental Justice Foundation's (EJF) five-year “Communities for Fisheries” initiative in Liberia, which addresses illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing threatening the nation‘s coastal economy. Small-scale fisheries sustain 75,000 jobs and contribute 10% of Liberia’s GDP, yet foreign trawlers illegally deplete fish stocks and destroy local equipment.

The EU-funded project established seven Collaborative Management Associations (CMAs), bringing together fishers, local government, and religious leaders to collaboratively manage marine resources. A groundbreaking achievement is the 50% female representation in CMA leadership positions, supported by 33 Village Saving and Loans Associations (VSLAs) that provide financial empowerment and governance training for women, who comprise 60% of the fisheries workforce.

The initiative implements Community Science programs where local fishers monitor catches and collect environmental data, directly informing national fisheries policy. Monitoring, Control, and Surveillance (MCS) efforts, conducted with the Liberian Coast Guard, enable communities to report illegal activities through tools like the DASE app.

The project’s lasting impact lies in communities gaining authentic voices in fisheries governance, taking control of their destiny, and creating a sustainable model for resource stewardship that serves as a regional and international example.

Protecting Liberia’s waters: Promoting legal and sustainable fisheries

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