The Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria has urged state governments to invest in fisheries and develop their marine resources as part of efforts to create jobs, improve food security and generate additional revenue.
The organisation’s President, Ismail Aniemu, made the call at the maiden edition of the MARCON National Conference on Sustainable Fishing, held under the theme, “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria: Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods.”
Aniemu said Nigeria had significant marine resources but was yet to fully benefit from the economic opportunities available in the fisheries sector.
He said the country’s marine wealth went beyond fish to include octopus, crabs, shrimps, crayfish and other products that could support a broad value chain.
According to him, fishing should become a more important part of Nigeria’s blue-economy strategy.
He attributed the sector’s limited development partly to Nigeria’s historic concentration on oil and gas, arguing that fisheries could provide an important path towards economic diversification.
Aniemu said the sector had the potential to create wealth and employment but questioned whether Nigeria was adequately participating in the fisheries value chain or managing its marine resources sustainably.
He identified marine pollution, illegal and unregulated fishing and inadequate local participation as major problems requiring coordinated action.
The MARCON president also encouraged stakeholders in the maritime industry to broaden their focus beyond containers and conventional cargo operations.
He said more attention should be given to fish production, processing and exports, noting that Nigeria both imports and exports fish but has not developed sufficient domestic capacity to capture greater value from the sector.
Aniemu called for artisanal fishermen and coastal communities to be included in policies, investments and development programmes affecting fisheries.
He said grassroots operators were important participants in the sector and should benefit directly from measures designed to improve fishing activities.
The MARCON president further challenged state governments to invest in fishing vessels and trawlers instead of merely relying on the presence of rivers, coastal waters and other marine resources.
He said states could not claim to possess marine wealth without developing the capacity to use it for the benefit of their residents.
Aniemu announced that the sustainable fishing conference would become an annual event to be held every September.
He said the conference would continue to bring together experts, academics and industry stakeholders to examine the challenges facing Nigeria’s fisheries sector and develop practical solutions for its sustainable growth.