Stakeholders in Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector have renewed their efforts to establish a modern fisheries law that addresses the shortcomings of the outdated Sea Fisheries Act, enacted in 1992.
A two-day workshop held in Lagos last week brought together key players from across the sector to review the proposed Fisheries Bill and a newly developed Fisheries Management Plan.
The workshop was organized by the Department of Fisheries under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, in collaboration with the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre, Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD Nigeria), University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
Speaking at the event, the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was represented by the Director of Fisheries, Paul Opuama, noted that the existing law is outdated and fails to address critical contemporary issues such as climate change, ecosystem-based management, traceability, and compliance with international trade standards.
“The 1992 Act does not reflect the current realities in the industry, it lacks provisions to fully tackle issues such as monitoring and surveillance technologies, climate resilience, and global trade compliance,” he said.
Oyetola assured participants that the ministry is committed to fast-tracking the legislative process for the reviewed bill, with the goal of securing approval from the Federal Executive Council.
“We understand the urgency of this reform and will work diligently to expedite the process towards establishing a robust legal and regulatory framework,” the minister added.
He also emphasized that the new framework would align with Nigeria’s international obligations, including the FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries, the Port State Measures Agreement, and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 14, which focuses on the sustainable use of oceans and marine resources.
The minister commended the Resource and Environmental Policy Research Centre, University of Nigeria, for providing the evidence-based insights critical to the reform process.
Professor Nnaemeka Chukwuone, the director of REPRC-EfD Nigeria, reiterated the Centre’s commitment to supporting the review, citing the vast potential of the fisheries sector to contribute significantly to Nigeria’s economic development.
“Through our research, we have provided data-driven advice to guide stakeholders in reviewing the bill,” he said.
Prof Chukwuone also revealed that EfD Nigeria collaborating with its counterpart in Ghana to develop a Fisheries Management Plan for Nigeria, taking a cue from the successful Ghanaian framework.
The Fisheries Management Plan was presented to the stakeholders for review by Prof. Chukwuone and Prof. Wisdom Akpalu, the director of EfD Ghana
Chukwuone expressed optimism that with the support of the Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, the revised documents will soon receive the necessary legal backing.
Also speaking at the workshop, Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Omoragbon Wellington, who was represented by his deputy, Usman Garba, emphasized the need for enhanced data-driven decision-making in fisheries management.
“We need better systems to track stock levels, monitor fishing efforts, assess ecosystem impacts, and evaluate compliance,” he said.
He stressed the importance of inter-agency cooperation for the successful implementation of both the revised Fisheries Act and the Fisheries Management Plan.
According to him, this will require close collaboration between the Department of Fisheries, the Nigerian Navy, the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA), the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), and other relevant agencies.
Wellington also highlighted the department’s goal of increasing the involvement of local communities and artisanal fishers in policy development and implementation.
Participants at the workshop included representatives from 22 organizations, including the Department of Fisheries, Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy; the academia, the Nigeria Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Catfish and Allied Farmers Association of Nigeria, Tilapia Aquaculture Developers Association of Nigeria, Association of Indigenous Fish Importers, and the Nigerian Navy, Worldfish, among other groups.