| The image is a strikingly ironic symbol of the | | | | cultivation and coastal trolling, executed in an |
| state of Nigerian fishing in general. The country | | | | export-oriented environment, can spur rapid |
| enjoys more than 850 km of coastline, besides an | | | | growth of down-the-line industries. Fishing, by |
| enviable number of well-stocked rivers, inland | | | | itself, has the potential of driving considerable |
| lakes, lagoons and creeks. The topography, soil | | | | enterprise development, transforming rural |
| composition and rainfall patterns in this portion of | | | | economies and generating direct and indirect |
| sub-Saharan Africa support an abundance of | | | | employment opportunities in the process. Abuja's |
| aquatic life across freshwater, brackish and | | | | primary responsibility lies in providing opportunities |
| saltwater ecosystems. However, tilapias, catfish, | | | | for export of fish and fish products to |
| carp and other freshwater species make up 80% | | | | international markets. Although viable data on the |
| of all cultivation in Nigeria, with commercial | | | | subject is lacking, the aggregate economic loss |
| maritime trawling and deep-sea fishing remaining | | | | due to reduced local fish production is significant |
| relatively under-exploited operations. Though | | | | and needs focused policy initiatives to correct. |
| credible data on the sector is extremely limited, | | | | The enterprise potential of this sector is made |
| media reports indicate the fishing business | | | | doubly significant by the nature of the business. |
| contributed $60 million to the national economy in | | | | Fishing relies heavily on small and middle scale |
| 2008, or roughly 4% of total agricultural output. | | | | ancillary industries like canning, net-making and |
| The sector currently accounts for 40% of the | | | | boat building, while supporting an additional base of |
| country's total animal protein intake and offers | | | | activities in storage, processing and marketing. |
| employment and livelihood to more than 3 million | | | | The net scope for employment generation, |
| people, although its contribution to the economy is | | | | business development and poverty eradication |
| minimal. | | | | through these allied activities make fishing deeply |
| Estimated annual fish cultivation was pegged at | | | | relevant to Nigeria's quest for inclusive economic |
| 120,000 tonnes in the 1960s. The figure had | | | | growth. |
| halved by the beginning of the next decade and | | | | Here are some of the most pressing arguments |
| continues to fall; current domestic production | | | | in favour of a rapid expansion of fishing activities: |
| hovering around just 400,000 tonnes. The sudden | | | | I. Aquaculture provides opportunities for optimal |
| change in fortune came about with the oil boom | | | | land use, allowing areas unsuitable for crops to be |
| of the 1970s, when the discovery of vast oil and | | | | developed into economically productive ponds and |
| natural gas reserves radically altered official | | | | fisheries. |
| priorities. Economic diversification was stalled as | | | | II. Focussed expansion of artisanal and small-scale |
| Abuja kept pumping back millions in oil profits into | | | | fishing can help turn around rural economies rapidly |
| further exploration, to the neglect of all other | | | | by generating jobs and sparking enterpreneruial |
| sectors. Endemic poverty descended over large | | | | activity. |
| parts of rural Nigeria as traditional livelihoods began | | | | III. In development-deprived areas and among |
| to wither away. The absence of inclusive growth | | | | rural communities, sustainable fish farming can help |
| flared ethnic tensions and provoked decades of | | | | improve both nutritional and living standards. |
| civil war and recurring military takeovers towards | | | | IV. Nigeria's highly diversified tropical ecology |
| the end of the last century. Despite its | | | | makes fishing in brackish and fresh waters almost |
| considerable foreign exchange earnings, human | | | | a zero opportunity-cost endeavour with infinite |
| development indicators plummeted across the | | | | growth potential. |
| board as the Nigerian economy grew increasingly | | | | Early in 2008, the fishing industry in the coastal |
| oil-dependent and unsustainable. | | | | Nigerian state of Akwa Ibom was paralysed in a |
| National ambitions were renewed with the | | | | wave of extortion and boat capture unleashed by |
| reinstatement of civilian rule in 1999, when Abuja | | | | sea-borne pirates. The attacks forced trawlers to |
| embarked on an extensive programme of | | | | go on an indefinite strike, bringing the local |
| economic reform and restructuring. The | | | | economy to a standstill and causing terrible loss of |
| government under former president O Obsanjo | | | | revenue to the regional council. While this particular |
| adopted a comprehensive roadmap premised on | | | | situation was eventually resolved, security remains |
| the objective of making Nigeria a significant player | | | | just one of several momentous challenges |
| in regional and global affairs. Specifically, Obsanjo's | | | | restraining the expansion of Nigerian fishing:o The |
| Vision 2020 document mandates sector-wide | | | | absence of a sustainable and progressive fisheries |
| initiatives to propel Nigeria into the top 20 global | | | | policy represents a fundamental hurdle, with lax |
| economies in a time-bound manner. The present | | | | government regulation routinely forcing small-scale |
| dispensation under President UM Yar'Adua remains | | | | operations out of business.o Population expansion |
| committed not just to achieving the 2020 | | | | in coastal areas is giving rise to over-fishing and |
| objective, but also the UN Millennial Development | | | | unscientific practices, destroying marine |
| goals of universal basic human rights. | | | | ecosystems and threatening underwater |
| It is in this connection that the fishing sector | | | | environments.o Organised fishing attracts high |
| presents unique opportunities as both a poverty | | | | capital expenditure in Nigeria as most of the |
| alleviation strategy and a tool for rapid | | | | necessary equipment, boats, feed, technology and |
| entrepreneurial growth. Present levels of fish | | | | know-how has to be imported.o Infrastructure |
| cultivation satisfy only a fraction of local | | | | deficits severely hamper the storage, transport |
| requirement, with exports having to fill in for | | | | and marketing of fish in rural areas, making |
| almost 95% of annual demand. Nigeria is in fact | | | | profitable urban markets unavailable to traditional |
| the top importer of fish in the African continent, | | | | fishing communities.o Despite specific government |
| sourcing more than 1.5 million tonnes of fish | | | | efforts, commercial deep-sea fishing is out of |
| annually from international markets. Unofficial | | | | reach for local entrepreneurs; the activity remains |
| estimates suggest less than 10% of the country's | | | | limited to the purview of foreign-owned |
| fish farming potential is currently being utilised, | | | | companies. |
| with as much as 60,000 hectares of unused land | | | | Although the sector continues to receive sporadic |
| available for expanding the sector. The fact | | | | government nudging and funding, the impact of |
| remains that Nigeria's vast natural resources and | | | | these measures has been considerably restricted |
| human capital can be leveraged to promote | | | | thus far due to lack of insight and effective |
| extensive fishing as a means of ensuring not only | | | | implementation. Special schemes to promote |
| exports but also food security. In principle at least, | | | | fishing in target communities have also failed |
| the Nigerian fishing industry has a lot to look | | | | because of a low awareness about profitability in |
| forward to. | | | | the business. Turning around this mindset could |
| Because of its extensive coastline and tropical | | | | well prove to be one of the deciding challenges |
| climate, Nigeria has the potential to develop a | | | | facing the Nigerian fishing industry. The nation's |
| diversified ecology for a range of commercially | | | | history and unique circumstances will undoubtedly |
| viable varieties of fish. The economic appeal | | | | test its resolve to achieve formidable goals. |
| behind fishing is tremendous, considering the | | | | Hopefully, the fervour of the Argungu fishermen |
| secondary and tertiary enterprises it can | | | | and their quest for the biggest fish will provide |
| generate. More efficient methods of inland | | | | some creative inspiration! |