The Federal Government on Thursday expressed its willingness to reposition the fisheries and aquaculture sub-sector of the nation’s economy with a view to bridging the gap between production and demand and growing the sub-sector to play its role in the overall bid to increase the nation’s food and nutrition security.
Giving the assurance in Benin City at the 44th National Fisheries Development Committee (NFDC) meeting, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security, Dr Ernest Afolabi Umakhihe, said that the ministry was strategising on the presidential priorities and ministerial deliverables for 2023-2027, adding that “the importance of fisheries and aquaculture to contribute to food and nutrition security, poverty eradication, wealth generation, employment as well as the creation of numerous investment opportunities to all Nigerians and international investors.”
Umuakhihe, whose keynote address at the occasion was delivered by Mr. Wellington Omoragbon, Director, Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture in the ministry, added urged the NFDC and all fisheries stakeholders present at the meeting to know that their efforts in developing memorandums that would be considered for approval at the National Council on Agriculture would play a strategic role in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope’ Agenda in boosting the nation’s food and nutrition security.
“It is significant to note that the Federal Government through the ministry has introduced some measures in the past year, allowing the fisheries sector to gain desired prominence such as; the ratification of the port state measures agreement by the Federal Government which is in the front line of attack against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated Fishing (IUU) and stop the trade of illegally caught fish, The distribution of Six Personnel Carrier Glass Reinforced Plastic Patrol Boats for some Coastal States like Lagos, Rivers, Akwa-Ibom and Cross River to secure our waters and this will be in collaboration with the Nigerian Navy, The review of the National Aquaculture Fisheries & Aquaculture Policy of Nigeria, 2024 – 2028.
“The launch of the Fisheries & Aquaculture Policy Brief titled ‘Transformation and Future of Aquatic Food Systems in Nigeria’, the distribution of intervention relief Inputs to fish farmers affected by flood disasters which led to economic losses, destruction of fish habitats, breeding grounds, gears and crafts of fisher folks. The ISO 17025 accreditation of the Nigerian Fisheries Laboratory by the Nigerian National Accreditation System (NINAS) for fish quality assurance.
“At this session, all issues peculiar to fisheries development such as capacity building, fish feed production, mariculture and cage culture, certification (aquaculture certification and shrimp) importation of fish, Lagos State Fishery Terminal, and the resuscitation of all the other terminals, fish farm estate development, fish species diversification, fisheries conservation measures amongst others will be discussed.
“I expect you to discuss the memoranda presented at this meeting with full professionalism so as to come up with practical solutions to the problems we wish to solve in the fishery sector as we endeavour to develop the Nigerian Fisheries. We must succeed now as always,” he pleaded.
Also speaking at the occasion, Edo State Commissioner for Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Steven Idehenre, said that the state government “has experienced and benefited a lot from so many fisheries projects and programs as a result of Mr. Governor’s agricultural policy which over the past seven years has led to developmental strides in the fisheries sub-sector and making the aquaculture industry in Edo state one of the fastest growing food-producing sub-sector, benefiting millions of her citizens through the provision of nutrition, food security, sustainable livelihood and poverty reduction.”
Idehenre listed some of the benefits including “the establishment of Fisheries Department on the newly refurbished Edo State College of Agriculture, Iguoriakhi, with a world-class modern facility to enable potential future fisheries professionals to be equipped with the latest standard technologies in the fisheries sub-sector, adding that Governor Godwin Obaseki had also given approval for the state fisheries department land along Ogba River basin to be opened for a new phase of cluster fisheries activities both for potential investors and existing fish farmers.
“With the approval of Mr. Governor, the state fisheries department has also been given the green light to commence the training of fish farmers on value addition to mitigating risk associated with post-harvest losses and wastages in fish farms, such as the acceptable way of producing smoked and dry fish, fish oil, fish fillet, fish powder, fish meal etc.
“Two weeks ago, Mr. Governor sent a bill for a law to repeal the Edo State Fisheries Edict, 1991 and enact a law to regulate fisheries and other related matters in Edo State to the state legislative arm at the state house of assembly. When passed into law, this will help to regulate fisheries activities in the state by protecting the legitimate right of everyone involved in fisheries activities in the state,” he stated.
He announced that due to the continuous increase in the cost of production of African catfish, which had been a dominant cultured fish in the country, the state government with its own policy, “has identified this threat and in order to protect the industry from collapsing, the state is presently working with some institutions and individuals to introduce an alternative fish species with a lesser production cost.
“Pangasius fish species, an exotic Asian catfish of the family Pangasiidae has been identified because of its fast growth rate with high feed conversion ratio (FCR), good protein quality and highly flavored meat. It survives very well in tropical freshwater environments and in varied temperature ranges such as ours, easy to process, preserve and package for export (highly valued in Europe, Asia and American markets). This is especially so for the Pengasius djambal because of its white flesh.”
The commissioner assured that the state would continue to work with government andnon-government institutions such as the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), National Fisheries Development Committee (NFDC), to continue to exploit the latest technology in the fisheries sub-sector.
The NFDC Meeting which was held at the John Odigie Oyegun Public Service Academy (JOOPSA), began on Wednesday, November 8, and will be rounded off on Friday, was attended by stakeholders in the nation’s fisheries subsectors drawn from across the states of the Federation.
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