Follow Us on Google
Stakeholders in fisheries and aquaculture sector have agreed to forward a draft proposal for the review of the country’s Sea Fisheries Act of 1992 to the National Assembly for consideration.
The proposed review document was produced after a two-day workshop organized by the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, in collaborations with the Resource and environmental Policy Centre, University of Nigeria, Environment for Development (REPRC-EfD) Nigeria, and the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association. The workshop was held in Lagos last week.
Participants at the workshop included representatives from the Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), Researchers from Environment for Development (EfD) Nigeria, Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Association of Indigenous Fish Importers, Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA), Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), World Aquaculture Society, West African Chapter, Nigerian Navy, artisanal fishermen, and the academia.
Speaking at the workshop, Vice Chancellor of the University of Nigeria, Prof Charles Igwe, said that the Sea Fisheries Act, which was last reviewed 30 years ago should be updated immediately to adequately address challenges in the sector and increase fish production in the country.
He listed some of the challenges in the sector to include declining fish stock due to over-harvesting, overfishing and cases of illegal, unregulated and unreported fishing.
Igwe, who was represented by the Deputy Vice Chancellor, Academic, Prof Johnson Urama, also stated that the sector is grappling with the challenges of Vessels Management System (VMS), Blue Economy, Mammals Protection, new fines regime, fishing seasons, determination of total allowable catch, and regulation of artisanal fishermen.
Statistics cited by the UNN Vice Chancellor indicated that the total fish consumption in Nigeria is about 3.2 million metric tons, with 1.2m MT local production, leaving a deficit of 2 million MT, which is augmented through import.
However, Igwe believes that review of the Act would improve local production, especially contributions from aquaculture.
“There is a need to introduce reforms on feeds and the production of high-yielding aquaculture species”, he said.
The Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, Mr Ime Umoh, agreed that the current Act was obsolete and should be updated to meet global best practices in the sector.
He, however, said that the document produced at the workshop has articulated the positions of various groups in the fisheries and aquaculture sector.
Ime promised to set-up a committee to check technical details in the review document before the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development sends it to the National Assembly
Director of EfD Nigeria, Dr Nnaemeka Chukwuone, urged the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to expedite action on sending the document to the National Assembly.
He expressed optimism that the process of reviewing the Act could be completed before the tenure of the 9th National Assembly expires next year.
