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Nigeria’s fishing industry is facing significant challenges due to outdated laws, resulting in annual losses of approximately $70 million.

According to Muhammad Laminu, National President of the Fisheries Cooperative Federation of Nigeria Limited (FCFNL), the country’s fishing laws, enacted in the 1980s, are no longer effective ¹.

Laminu emphasized that unregulated fishing activities violate laws, and the problem persists due to outdated legislation. 

“You know this unregulated fishing is a kind of fishing activity that violates laws. The problem with unregulated fishing is a result of outdated laws. The laws that regulate fishing activities in this country were enacted as far back as 1980 or so, and it has not been revisited since then,” he said.

The FCFNL president highlighted two primary issues: enforcement and corruption. He noted that the Federal Department of Fisheries lacks sufficient funding to regulate fishing activities effectively.

Additionally, corruption enables individuals to exploit Nigeria’s fish resources, both in territorial waters and on the high seas.

To address these challenges, Laminu advocated for comprehensive reform and increased funding for the sector. 

“The best thing to do is at least for the government to come up with a comprehensive reform and increase funding to the sector,” he said.

The FCFNL is developing a training and capacity-building program for its members to enhance their skills and knowledge. Laminu emphasized the need for updated regulations, stating, “All this is due to a lack of regulations. We need a standard and up-to-date regulation.”

The Nigerian Navy has also reported that the country loses approximately $70 million annually to illegal, unreported, and unregulated fishing ². Similarly, the House of Representatives has expressed concerns about Nigeria’s losses due to illegal fishing by foreign trawlers ³.

Overall, Nigeria’s fishing industry faces significant challenges due to outdated laws, inadequate enforcement, and corruption.

Comprehensive reform and increased funding are necessary to address these issues and promote sustainable fishing practices.

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