The Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) has called for urgent investment in Nigeria's industrial fishing sector to increase domestic fish production and reduce the country's dependence on imported fish. NITOA President, Mrs Benedette Okonkwo, stated that the sector requires modern vessels, affordable finance, fish terminals, cold-chain infrastructure, and maritime security. This, she said, would help address the major constraints to the sector, including high fuel and operating costs, ageing fishing vessels, and limited access to finance.
Okonkwo identified inadequate fishing and cold-chain infrastructure, regulatory difficulties, maritime insecurity, lack of fish terminals, poor fisheries data, climate-related pressures, and limited processing capacity as significant challenges facing the sector. She emphasized that modernizing the country's fishing fleet should be the starting point of the sector's revival, with government and private investors supporting the rehabilitation and replacement of obsolete vessels with safer and more fuel-efficient equipment.
NITOA also called for stronger fisheries research, reliable data, and digital monitoring to ensure that fleet expansion does not result in overfishing or the depletion of Nigeria's marine resources. The association stressed that fleet expansion must be guided by scientific assessments of fish stocks to prevent overfishing and ensure the long-term viability of the industry. Okonkwo advocated for affordable long-term financing, fisheries insurance, and investment schemes to enable operators to acquire vessels and equipment, develop processing facilities, and meet working-capital needs.
The association emphasized the need for modern fishing ports, landing facilities, ice plants, cold-storage facilities, refrigerated transport, processing centres, and fish markets to reduce post-harvest losses and improve the quality and value of fish products. NITOA also highlighted the importance of establishing dedicated fish terminals, which would serve as specialized shore-based facilities where fishing vessels can safely discharge their catches for sorting, processing, storage, marketing, and distribution.
The development of fish terminals, NITOA noted, would strengthen industrial fishing, reduce post-harvest losses, and support food security and economic growth. The association also advocated for greater investment in fish processing and value addition, including frozen, smoked, canned, and filleted products, noting that expanding these activities would create jobs and stimulate related industries. Furthermore, NITOA called for stronger cooperation among fisheries authorities, the Nigerian Navy, and other relevant agencies to protect fishing vessels, coastal communities, and legitimate economic activities at sea.
Okonkwo stressed that fisheries policy must be based on reliable data, with regular stock assessments and marine research used to determine sustainable catch levels, protect breeding grounds, and establish appropriate fishing seasons and conservation measures. She also highlighted the importance of integrating the industrial fishing sector into Nigeria's broader blue-economy strategy, with public-private partnerships mobilizing the capital and expertise required for fleet modernization, infrastructure, processing, logistics, and market development.
A coordinated revival of the sector, Okonkwo stated, would increase domestic fish production, improve food security, create jobs in coastal communities, reduce fish imports, expand fish-processing and marine industries, increase government revenue, and improve livelihoods across the fisheries value chain. The association added that the ultimate objective should be to derive greater food and economic value from Nigeria's fisheries resources while preserving them for future generations.
Key points
- NITOA urges Nigeria to invest in modern vessels and infrastructure to boost domestic fish production.
- The association calls for stronger fisheries research and reliable data to prevent overfishing.
- A coordinated revival of the sector is expected to improve food security, create jobs, and increase government revenue.
