The Maritime Correspondents Association of Nigeria (MARCON) has announced plans to make its National Conference on Sustainable Fishing an annual event, with subsequent editions to be held every September.
President of MARCON, Ismail Aniemu, disclosed this at the maiden edition of the conference in Lagos, where he stressed the importance of Nigeria’s fisheries and wider aquatic resources to food security, employment and national economic development.
Aniemu said the term fishing should not be restricted to finfish alone, noting that the country’s aquatic resources also encompass products such as octopus, crabs, shrimps and crayfish, as well as the wider value chain associated with the sector.
According to him, Nigeria’s overdependence on oil and gas has contributed to inadequate attention to fisheries and other sectors capable of contributing significantly to economic growth.
He said the country’s aquatic resources should be treated as an integral part of the national economy rather than viewed solely as a source of food.
“Fish itself is part of our national economy. We can’t be discussing food economy and keeping fish in isolation,” Aniemu said.
He explained that the conference would provide a platform to examine the entire fisheries value chain, including production, quality, participation, investment and sustainability.
Aniemu said the industry must ensure that fishing activities do not undermine the health of Nigeria’s marine ecosystem, stressing the need for sustainable management of aquatic resources.
He identified marine pollution, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, and inadequate indigenous participation as some of the critical issues requiring attention.
“We need to maintain a very healthy marine life if we must have sustainable fishing in Nigeria,” he said.
The MARCON president also called for greater indigenous participation and investment in the fisheries sector, noting that discussions around investment and economic opportunities in Nigeria often focus disproportionately on other sectors.
He said the annual conference would continue to bring stakeholders together to examine challenges and opportunities across the fisheries value chain and promote greater awareness of the sector’s contribution to Nigeria’s economy.
Aniemu expressed optimism that sustained attention to fisheries and other aquatic resources could help diversify Nigeria’s economy, strengthen food security and create opportunities for economic development.
He announced that the next edition of the National Conference on Sustainable Fishing would hold in September 2027, making the event a permanent item on MARCON’s annual calendar.
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