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From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa
Fishermen from coastal communities in Bayelsa State have listed oil pollution, incursion by industrial fishing trawlers and unnatural fishing methods major threats affecting fishing in the Niger Delta region.
Governor Douye Diri had recently while speaking at the United Nations Convention for Conversing River Deltas (UN- CCRD) drawn attention to the effect of environmental pollution on coastal communities in Bayelsa.
Fishermen operating in creeks, rivers and the Atlantic Ocean drawn from coastal communities to a Cpacity Building Workshop for Human Rights Defenders organised by Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) in Yenagoa said those threats have combined to reduce the population of fishes in the Niger Delta region.
They lamented that even though industrial fishing trawlers are restricted by law from operating near the coastline, the trawlers often breached this law by encroaching to ‘sweep’ the waterways by overfishing and taking away fingerlings that should be left to replenish the fish stock.
One of the affected fishermen, Chief Washington Odoyibo from Ikarama, community in Yenagoa Local Government Area expressed sadness that oil exploration and associated spills have wiped out fish species while the waters have become so toxic to support fishing.
According to him during oil spill incidents, the booms used to trap crude from spreading are left behind by oil firms after clean up to obstruct navigation by fishing boats.
Chief Mrs Ayibakuro Warder another farmer and fisherman also from Ikarama stated that prolonged exposure to crude and inhaling the toxic fumes have increased the prevalence of respiratory ailments like asthma.
“The frequent spills in Ikarama has led to diagnosis of many new and strange ailments previously not common, and women are worst hit because they stay longer in the farms and get exposed to crude.
“The report by Bayelsa Oil and Environmental Commission found higher than normal levels of heavy metals in breast milk of breast feeding mothers in the state.
“High rate of miscarriages amongst women of reproductive ages in oil communities was also reported by the study,” Warder said.
In his welcome remarks, Technical Adviser to Bayelsa governor on the environment, Chief Alagoa Morris commended HOMEF for building the capacity of fishermen to defend their environmental and human rights.
He urged the fishermen to make contributions that will help policy makers to formulate policies to improve fisheries.
Dr Piriye Kiyaromo, Senior Special Adviser on Tourism to Bayelsa Governor in his goodwill message noted that there was a link between fishing and tourism.
He said tourists often accompany fishermen on fishing expeditions even as they also add to the culinary experience of tourists who crave for local dishes.
Kiyaramo noted that the proposed State Ministry of Blue Economy in Bayelsa would take care of the concerns and challenges faced by fishermen who for a significant segment of the blue economy.
