Stakeholders Map Out Guidelines for Sustainable Fishery in Nigeria
By Yusuf Akinlotan, Lagos
Stakeholders and experts in the fishery sector have gathered to discuss guidelines to securing sustainable small-scale fisheries (SSF) in Nigeria.
The conference was necessary due to low patronage, neglect and several other continuous challenges in fishery, particularly the artisanal, which is the small scale fishery business.
The SSF guidelines were the major focus when the stakeholders converged on a 3-day National workshop on the Awareness for the implementation of the Small-Scale Fisheries in Nigeria, being organised by the Lagos State University (LASU) Ojo with the support of Food and Agriculture Organisation(FAO), Worldfish and International Collective in Support of Fishworkers.
The National stakeholders workshop was declared opened by the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos state University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello between 9th to 11th of May, 2022.
Speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University who was the Chief convener of the Workshop, Professor Sheu Akintola said the conference was aimed at drawing awareness to the implementation of the SSF guidelines which came into being after series of negotiations.
He said this would also ensure sustainable development within the Small-Scale fisheries.
On the need for guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries in Nigeria, Professor Akintola stated that there were lots of challenges, globally, which affects fishery business.
“Stakeholders including the state and non-state actors were consulted by Food and Agriculture Oganisation (FAO) of the UN, and an agreement was reached in 2014 but was drafted in 2015 and Nigeria being a member state also agreed to use the guidelines to manage its fishery.
“As an academic, i have written chapters on how we can contribute and luckily myself and my colleague, Dr. Kafayah Fakoya were able to get support of FAO through the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF).”
“So here in Nigeria we are trying to draw the attention of the stakeholders, government, media, Human right practitioners, youths, fishers, academicians, CSO and everybody because of the challenges being faced by the fishers so that poverty is reduced to the bearest minimal in the sectors,” he stated.
Small-Scale Fisheries remain one of the important resources for developing countries in Africa, including Nigeria. According to Fishery &Aquaculture officer, FAO Regional office for Africa in Ghana, Dr.Dismas Mbabazi, about 90% of Fisheries are small scales which provide a source of food, income for National economy, a way of life for some people and also help in maintaining ecosystem and climate impact.
In his advice on the effective implementation of the SSF guidelines, Fishery & Aquaculture managament expert, Mr Obinna Anozie of the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal resources (AU-IBAR) Kenya believed that having attracted top international organisations, the forum should create a platform for key actors.
He also called for the establishment mechanisms to enhance proper implementation of the guidelines in Nigeria.
Meanwhile the Senior Special Assistant to the President on SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire who joined the workshop virtually assured the participants that Nigerian government is committed to Partnership towards ensuring that Small-Scale fisheries deliver on the Sustainable Development Goals.
Part of the recommendations at the end of the delibrations included improving on the welfare of Fisherfolks, more government funding of Fisheries sector as well as collection and provision of gender disaggregated data that adequately capture the imput of women in Fisheries.
Amongst International experts, researchers and academics who contributed to the workshop virtually supported the implementation of the SSF Guidelines.
Some of those present at the event included Ms Lena Westlund, International Fisheries Analyst, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Dr. Kendra Byrd, Senior Research Fellow, Nutrition and Food Systems University of Greenwich Natural Resources Institute, Dr. Philippa Cohen, Consultant to WorldFish and Adjunct Research Fellow at James Cook University, Australia, Prof. Emeritus Svein Jentoft, UiT the Arctic University of Norway, were among other personalities who attended the event.
Lateefah Ibrahim