Illegal fishing activities threatening Nigeria’s Blue Economy prospects—NITOA
The leadership of the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) has raised alarm on chances of missing out in the emerging Blue Economy Era by Nigeria if the ongoing illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing by foreigners are not checked forthwith.
The body averred that the menace is hitting bad on the local operators to the extent of depletion of fishing trawlers in the country.
In her welcome address during a recent Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting (MBRBM), on fishing and fisheries in Lagos, put together by her firm, the Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd., Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting (MBRBM), on fishing and fisheries in Lagos, Mrs. Benedette Okonkwo noted that before the insurgency by foreign fishers, members of the association had a combined fleet of over 250 vessels and over 20 fishing companies.
However, she revealed that the number has dropped to 150 vessels with about five companies presently struggling to survive due to poor protection from the government and higher technology deployed by the unregulated invading foreigners.
According to her, “NITOA has been involved in industrial fishing activities in Nigeria since 1986 when some notable Nigerians initiated the idea of having a unified body to represent its members on issues of mutual interest.
“There is the need to establish a Fisheries Terminal here in Lagos where about 95 percent of the industrial fishing operators are based.
“Also, the government should do well to resuscitate the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) Scheme, to make it more robust, workable and transparent,” she said.
She said that trawler owners were overburdened by overzealous government agencies overseeing sea fishing that could not do much in halting the incursions of foreigners
On the way forward, Mrs. Okonkwo argued that “There is the need for the government to sit down with NITOA to chart a common course so as to harmonise the processes and procedures to attract more local and foreign direct investments.
“Other areas that government must look into include; high cost of statutory registration and renewals of trawlers particulars from the regulatory agencies; occasional pirate attacks at high sea leading to loss of lives and property and damage of vessels and machines,” Zoe Maritime boss averred.
Earlier her welcome remarks, the Chairman, Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd., Mrs. Oritsematosan Edodo-Emore, said Nigeria’s vast coastline and its Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ), had immeasurable fish resources which ordinarily should transform the economy if properly harnessed.
