Trawler operators attribute vessel depletion to illegal fishing

The Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) has said that the menace of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing had led to the depletion of fishing trawlers in the country .

Mrs Benedette Okonkwo, President of the association, said this at the Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd., Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting (MBRBM), on fishing and fisheries in Lagos.

Okonkwo said that members of the association had a combined fleet of over 250 vessels and over 20 fishing companies.

This, she said, had drastically reduced to 150 vessels with about five presently struggling to survive.

She added that illegal fishing activities in the country was threatening Nigeria’s blue economy prospects.

Okonkwo called on the government to introduce initiatives that would boost the fishing industry.

“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 Fisheries Terminal here in Lagos where about 95 per cent of the industrial fishing operators are based.

“Also, government should do well to resucitate 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.

This, she said, was affecting the growth of the industry that should be a veritable source of local fish supply and foreign exchange earnings for the country.

“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,” she said.(NAN)