The National Fisheries & Aquaculture Authority was created by an Act of National Legislation on October 9, 2017. It functions as a fully-fledged autonomous body pursuant to the Public Authorities Law of the Republic of Liberia. NaFAA has its roots in the erstwhile Bureau of National Fisheries, which operated as a unit within the department of Technical services of the Ministry of Agriculture from 1956 to 2017.

The overall fisheries sector goal is: Sustainably managed and economically viable fisheries that generate prosperity for the present and generations yet unborn.