Fish Production Hits 1.4 Million Tonnes – FG

The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, mentioned that Nigeria has seen an increase in fish output since the establish...

The Minister for Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, mentioned that Nigeria has seen an increase in fish output since the establishment of the ministry, rising from 1.1 to approximately 1.4 million metric tons, while initiatives continue to enhance local capabilities via technological advancements and improved regional cooperation.

This is also while Oyetola revealed that the Federal Government has started talks with the Bank of Industry to enable single-digit interest loans for fishermen nationwide, as part of initiatives to enhance local fish production and address illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing in Nigerian waters.

Oyetola revealed this on Wednesday in Lagos during his address at the conclusion of the 16th Conference of Ministers of the Fisheries Committee for the West and Central Gulf of Guinea.

He stated, "The nation has seen an increase in fish output since the establishment of the ministry, rising from 1.1 to approximately 1.4 million metric tons, despite continuous efforts to enhance local capabilities via technological advancements and improved regional cooperation."

He stated that the loan program was designed to support small-scale fishers by establishing collaborative frameworks that would allow them to obtain low-cost financing and increase their output.

"We are currently discussing with the Bank of Industry to explore the option of offering single-digit loans to fishermen. You are aware that commercial banks won't provide such low-interest loans, but institutions like BOI can. We are in communication with them to help streamline this process so that fishermen can receive assistance at a reasonable rate," Oyetola stated.

Oyetola stated that the government's objective was to boost fish output, encourage the development of the value chain, and decrease the nation's reliance on imported fish, which still causes a significant loss of foreign currency.

"Fishing serves as a crucial source of protein for our population, and the industry significantly contributes to food security and job creation. We are striving to boost local production by providing artisanal fishers with resources, promoting cooperatives, and tackling issues like access to financial support and feed manufacturing," he said.

The ex-Governor of Osun State emphasized that the government is considering the establishment of local feed mills to lower production expenses. He further mentioned that, along with these efforts, the government needs to enhance storage infrastructure to assist fishermen in keeping their catch for more than just a single day.

"Here are several approaches we are adopting to establish a long-term fishing sector," he stated.

Regarding the problem of illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing, Oyetola admitted that this activity continues to be a significant economic issue, with the nation losing billions of naira each year due to foreign ships taking advantage of Nigeria's waters.

He highlighted that the sole successful method to tackle the threat was via technology and cooperation within the region.

"We possess approximately 200 nautical miles of exclusive economic zone, and it is not feasible to monitor the entire area using human resources. The solution lies in technology. At times, these ships cross our boundaries, disable their systems, and catch our fish, which they then sell back to us as imported seafood. We are losing billions due to such activities, but by implementing advanced monitoring technologies, we can minimize this loss significantly," the Minister mentioned.

Oyetola mentioned that the ministry is dedicated to collaborating with other member countries of the Fisheries Committee for the West and Central Gulf of Guinea to guarantee efficient regional oversight and mutual information sharing in order to combat unlawful fishing activities across borders.

In his closing statements, the former Chairman of the FCWC and interim Director-General of Liberia's National Fisheries and Aquaculture Authority, Cyrus Saygbe, praised Oyetola for his dedication to regional collaboration and voiced hope that continued joint patrols and technological efforts would assist in reducing the problem of unlawful fishing.

He expressed sorrow over the ongoing annual loss of billions of dollars by African nations because of unlawful and unmonitored fishing practices.

Still, the Gulf of Guinea faces significant exploitation due to illegal fishing, which has been one of the major issues for the FCWC. We must do more; we need to develop new methods and implement technologies that can surpass these operators who have now created their own systems to avoid being caught.

"As I pass on the gavel today, we will keep collaborating closely with the Minister to maintain our efforts against this issue. We are also pleased that the World Trade Organisation Bill has been approved, as it will assist in countering larger nations that back illegal fishing in African waters," Saygbe stated.

The departing chairman mentioned that the FCWC is set to conduct a joint regional patrol and aims to enhance its monitoring system by working with member nations, technical allies, and regional organizations.

"We are aware of the significant nations and corporations engaged in this exploitation, and although we may not disclose specific names, our current emphasis is on developing internal strategies to safeguard our waters together. That is the power of regional collaboration, and we will keep advancing it," he added.

The German Federal Ministry for the Marine and Blue Economy was officially established in August 2023 during President Bola Tinubu's administration, with Adegboyega Oyetola named as the first minister.

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