Stakeholders in Nigeria’s maritime sector have warned that the nation is losing billions of naira annually to illegal fishing and other maritime crimes, which pose a significant threat to the country’s N2.5 trillion blue economy potential. These challenges, they argue, must be addressed urgently if Nigeria is to fully benefit from its ocean economy.
Reports indicate that foreign vessels, particularly from India and China, are increasingly entering Nigeria’s waters with trawlers, fishing without restriction. Meanwhile, only about 150 fishing trawlers remain operational within Nigeria, many of them struggling to survive due to rising operational costs.
At a recent maritime forum, Prof. Larry Awosika, Chairman of the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (CLCS), cautioned that illegal fishing, coupled with security lapses and environmental degradation, could severely undermine Nigeria’s marine industries, with repercussions extending beyond national borders. He stressed the importance of integrating economic growth with environmental sustainability, highlighting that maritime security is crucial for the development of the blue economy, which includes sectors such as fishing, resource extraction, marine transportation, and tourism.
Charles Okerefe, a lecturer at the Nigerian Maritime University and Managing Director/CEO of Kamany Marine Services Ltd, spoke with Daily Sun, pointing out that illegal fishing has been an ongoing issue for years.
“Piracy has been reduced considerably according to reports from the Navy and other security agencies. But illegal fishing is still thriving. We have the Indians and Chinese who have trawlers coming into our waters to fish.”
Okerefe suggested that the government’s security apparatus, especially the Navy, must strengthen their efforts to ensure arrests and prosecutions. “The remedy is for the security forces to up their game so that arrests can be made and prosecutions carried out. Not just arrests, because sometimes they arrest and release them after some bills are paid. Prosecution must follow to serve as a deterrent to others with malicious intentions.”
He further emphasized that the Nigerian Navy is mandated to protect the nation’s waters, pointing out that while there is talk of a national guard, the Nigerian Navy remains the primary body responsible for securing the economic life of the nation’s waters, rivers, and oceans. “Even though a national guard bill is being proposed, the Nigerian Navy is still tasked with securing the waters from illegal activities such as foreign trawlers engaging in illegal fishing,” he explained.
Mrs. Bennedette Okonkwo, President of the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), also voiced concerns over the financial strain facing the fishing trawler industry. She warned that without immediate intervention, the sector could collapse, leading to a greater reliance on imported seafood.
In addition to addressing the pressing issues at hand, Okonkwo urged the government to offer support in the form of fuel subsidies to ease the high costs faced by operators. “Government support could come in the form of fuel subsidies, not just price reduction, but actual subsidies to help us operate, stressing the urgency of intervention to prevent more vessels from remaining docked and further reducing local fish production capacity,” she said.
Okonkwo also pointed out that many of the country’s fishing trawlers are primarily licensed for shrimping, which limits Nigeria’s capacity to meet its fish consumption needs through trawling alone. She called for stronger support for aquaculture to fill the gap left by the struggling trawler industry, warning that without such support, Nigeria will continue to rely heavily on imported seafood.
THE SUN
