Fish production: Why FG, states must leverage coaster lines to boost economy —Don

Professor Kayode Olorun of the Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye, Ogun State, has asked the Federal and states governments to leverage on the country’s 960km coaster line to boost its through fisheries productions.

Olurin, a Professor of Hydrobiology and Fisheries, stated this while delivering the 86th Inagural lecture of the state owned institution on the topic “Dwindling Fish Production: Fisheries Research To The Rescue”, that fishery contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economy with the country being Abner importer of fishery products.

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He explained that over 6,000 registered fish farmers at Eriwe Fish Farm in Ijebu area of Ogun State produced about 2,500 metric tonnes of catfish and equally generates over N1bn annually.

The Don also noted that artisan – based marine fisheries provide jobs for over 400,000 people, particularly in the Niger Delta region of the country.

Olurin who said that fish represents a major source of protein available to most Nigerians, added that the nation’s fish production could be greatly enhanced and doubled to boost the economy, create more jobs for the youths.

“Fishery contributes significantly to the economy of Nigeria, to food and nutrition security, provides jobs particularly in the coastal areas where the poorest and most vulnerable reside.

“Fish represents the major source of protein available to most Nigerians, with an estimated per caput fish consumption of 13.3kg in 2013 with the total fisheries production in 2015 estimated at 1,027,000 metric tonnes to which marine catches contributed 36 per cent, inland waters catches 33 per cent and aquaculture 31 per cent. Fishery sector contributed 0.5 per cent of the National GDP in 2015,” he further stated.

According to him, Nigeria expended $1.2billion in 2013 on fish importation and exported fish worth $284,390 million within the same period, citing Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO,2018).