House of Reps Tasks Navy, NIMASA on Illegal Fishing by Foreigners
The House of Representatives Wednesday expressed deep concern over the activities of foreign vessels engaged in illegal fishing in Nigeria’s territorial waters.
Worried about the development, the House said it was the duty of the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) to check the illegal activities.
The concerns of the House followed a motion by Patrick Ifon who pointed out that though the country has large coastal areas, yet it was importing fish for consumption.
Ifon said that the country has been importing fish from China and The Netherlands, adding that Nigeria loses the sum of $70 million annually to Chinese and other European trawlers who are engaged in illegal fishing in Nigeria.
He called on the federal government to review the licences being given to foreign trawlers, adding that this was affecting local fishing companies and do not encourage investment in the sector.
Following the motion, the House in its resolution assigned the Committee on Agricultural Production and Services to carry out an investigation on the illegal activities of foreign vessels and report in three weeks time.
Part of the resolution of the House reads: “the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the Nigerian Navy and the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) should put measures in place to curb illegal fishing activities on Nigeria’s waters; and
“Further urge the federal government to prevail on the Gulf of Guinea Commission to urgently introduce a legally binding framework to check excessive fishing or overfishing in the region.”
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