Chief Audu Ogbeh |
The
department of fisheries, Federal ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development
(FMARD) under the leadership of the Minister, Chief Audu Ogbeh, and Senator
Heinehen Lokpobiri (Minister of state) has witnessed a lot of proactive
activities in the last two years (2015-2017) with its positive impact very
evident in many ways in the activities and achievement recorded in the
fisheries production through the federal Department of Fisheries.
There has been an increased production of fish from 800 metric to 1.1 million metric tons in year 2015, thereby reducing the demand deficit of 2.1 million metric tons gap to a million, as this upscale production was a result of acceleration policy of backward integration of local breeding to checkmating import bill which is the hall mark of President Mohammudu Buhari government who is very particular about economic diversification from oil and gas to wealth creation through agriculture and other real sector.
Mandate of the Department.
The Federal
Department of Fisheries is charged with the sustainable development of Nigerian
fisheries for self-sufficiency in fish production, utilization and resource
conservation through diverse policy strategies. The Department formulates
policy strategies aimed at providing the enabling environment for the private sector
to participate in fish production initiatives and drive the industry. Some aspects of fisheries development are on
the concurrent legislative list while the management of marine fisheries is on the exclusive legislative list. The
Department therefore has exclusive responsibility for the control of marine
fisheries exploitation, conservation and resource protection in line with the
FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries thereby ensuring the
sustainability of the fisheries resources. The Federal Department of Fisheries
and Aquaculture has the following mandates:
Development of Nigeria’s fisheries
resource potentials for self-sufficiency in fish production;
* Development of modern and effective
fish processing and preservation technologies;
* Fisheries resource conservation and
management.
* Fish Quality Assurance to meet export
standards;
* Issuance of Health Certificate for the
export of fish and fishery products, especially to the European Union and the
United States of America;
* Licensing of Nigerian-flagged Fishing
and Shrimping Vessels;
* Capacity building for the Fisheries
subsector;
* Collection,
Collation and Analysis of national fisheries data;
* Collaboration
and partnerships for fisheries development;
* Update
and enforcement of Fisheries laws and regulations;
* Issuance
of Catch Certificates to trawler operators;
* Fisheries
Resource Monitoring, Control and Surveillance;
* Certification
of Fish Production and Fish Feed production facilities nationwide;
* Implementation
of internationally accepted best fishing practices.
ACHIEVEMENTS FROM 2015 TO 2017
Diversification
of Fish Species for Improved Aquaculture Production
Nigerian has high species diversification which are highly valued
in the international market and can generate millions in foreign exchange.
Therefore the promotion of the diversification of other culturable fish species
and shell fish like shrimp will not only boost domestic production but increase
revenue profile of the country among others. In recognition of the immense
economic benefits of the programme to the nation, the Federal Department of
Fisheries is promoting the diversification of the fish cultured species. This
was achieved through capacity building programmes on carp and tilapia production
organized for fish farmers in the South West and North Central regions of the
Country.
Establishment
of Fish Farm Clusters and Fish Feed Mills in States
The aim of
the fish farm cluster established is to have a central place where the fish
farmers can raise their fish together. The advantage of this is that farmers
would have the opportunity of sharing the same infrastructure and resources,
have access to technical knowledge and experience of other farmers and thereby
reduce the cost of production. This would also increase farmers’ access to
finance and government supports. In 2016, fish farm clusters, equipped with
functional fish feed mills were established in Kano and River States
Export Promotion for
Aquaculture Products through Certification and
Standardization of fish and fish products
Aquaculture is probably the fastest growing
food-producing sector globally and the growth trend of the sector in Nigeria is
significant. As a result there have been increasing interest in the export of
Nigeria aquaculture products to European countries and there are ongoing huge
investments in the sector. However, in order to access most of these foreign
markets, it is expected that an effective standardization, certification and
traceability system are in place in line with global best practices. The
Federal Department of Fisheries, as the regulatory arm of the government has
therefore embarked on a nationwide standardization and certification of fish
farms, aquaculture production and processing facilities in compliance with
HACCP and EU Directives, the US Tracy Law to facilitate export of Nigeria’s
fish and fish product to the foreign market.
Young
Fish Farmers Development Programme
It is a
Catch them Young programme of the Department whereby cottage fish farms are
established in Federal Government Secondary Schools and other selected schools
in the States. The students are being trained to manage the farm, and
continuous mentoring is being provided by the federal fisheries officers in the
State. The initiative was also used to start aquaculture clubs in the secondary
schools. The pilot phase of the project covered seven (7) states of the
Federation which include Federal Government Colleges (FGC) in Borno, Ekiti,
Imo, Katsina, Nasarawa, Rivers States and FCT.
Establishment
of standard fish processing plants and cold-rooms to reduce post-harvest losses
Fish being a
highly perishable commodity starts deteriorating in quality and look from the
point of harvest if not adequately preserved or processed. The Department
established standard processing and storage facilities to promote preservation,
boost shelf life, reduce post-harvest loss and promote value addition for fish
in the country. Benefiting States include Adamawa, Bayelsa, Delta, Kano, Lagos,
Niger and Ogun States.
Establishment of
National Aquaculture Certification Centre (A Model Laboratory) in Abuja
In order to
promote the standard of fish and fish products for both local consumption and
export market, the National Aquaculture Certification Centre was established in
Abuja. This is a semblance of the National Fisheries Laboratory in Lagos and
would serve for the analysis of samples obtained in the Northern region and
nearby States. This will facilitate the effort of the Department on the certification
and standardization of fish and fish products in the Northern Region of the
country and promote export of fish and fish products from the region to
international market.
Rehabilitation
of existing government fisheries infrastructures and farms
Most of the government fish farms
located across the states were built originally to international standards with
features needed to run effectively. However, over the years due to inadequate
maintenance some of these infrastructures are now in dilapidated states. The
remaining ones which are in manageable states are either underutilized or not
being utilized at all. The Department
has embarked on rehabilitation of these farms in order to put them to optimal
use. In 2016, Government fish farms at Panyam, Plateau State and Tiga in Kano
State were rehabilitated. Likewise under this rehabilitation, the Lagos liaison
office of the Department and the Department model fish processing plant were
rehabilitated.
Enhancement of Lakes and Reservoirs across the Country to boost fish production
Catches from artisanal fisheries
production has declined significantly due to stock depletion resulting largely
from over fishing. This has caused a major dislocation not only on the daily
income of fisher folk but also on their general livelihoods and standard of
living. In order to boost the fisheries of these water bodies, a restocking
programme and fisheries management regime was carried out in Akata Lake, Benue
State; Aloibiri lake, Bayelsa State; Gerio lake, Adamawa State; Abadaba lake,
Imo State; Ikere George Reservoir, Osun State and Shatawanka lake, Zamfara
State.
Cage
culture fish production
The Federal
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development signed a Memorandum of
Understanding with the Federal Ministry of Water Resources for the release of
some dams in the country for increase in local fish production. Consequently,
large scale Cage culture developments, Pen culture, diversion of water to fish
ponds, and integrated fish farming are amongst the fisheries activities that
have begun on these water bodies. In view of the success of the programme, the
Department has organized sensitization programmes for other stakeholders on
cage culture development.
Registration
of Artisanal Fishing Craft and Gear
In order to ensure that the artisanal
fisheries sub-sector (which has over the years contributed 80% - 85% of the
total fish production in the country), is well organized, the Ministry
commenced the sensitization of stakeholders towards the registration of fishing
craft and boats. The national registration exercise is intended primarily to
give an estimate of the fishing efforts in our waters, effective management and
security of the fishing environment. The enumeration exercise will also ensure
maximum utilization of the resources of that sector.
Fish
Farm Estate Development Programme
Since its inception in 2009, more than 65
fish farmers have benefitted from the Fish Farm Estate Development Programme of
the government through which each beneficiary was given a grant of 15 million
naira. In order to assess the success of the programme so far, the Department
has engaged on a monitoring and assessment exercise to all the farms
nationwide. This is with a view to
upgrading the scheme and broadening its scope.
Supports to the North
East States for Special Intervention
The Federal Government under the 2015
appropriation provided support for 8 identified large scale fish farmers in the
North eastern region of the country to increase fish production in the region
and promote availability of good quality nutrition that fish offers to the
populace. The input support provided includes provision of fish juveniles and
fish feeds which covers 85% of the cost of production.
Fish Preservation and Processing
One of the major challenges facing the inland
fishing and aquaculture sectors in the country is how to preserve their fish.
Fish being a highly perishable commodity starts deteriorating in quality and
look from the point of harvest if not adequately preserved or processed. In
order to promote preservation, boost shelf life, reduce post-harvest loss and
promote value addition for fish in the country, the Federal Government under
the 2015 appropriation distributed over 200 smoking kilns to selected fish
markets and fish farmers nationwide.
Upgrade of Fisheries Technology Development
Centre
Federal Boatyard and Fibreglass Fabrication
Centre, Igbokoda, Ondo State and the Lokoja, Boatyard are two major Fisheries
Technology Development Centres meant to service the artisanal and aquaculture
industry in the region through the production of fibre glass tanks, boat
construction and maintenance, and to also serve as a training centre. Under the
current administration, the centres have been upgraded and the non-functional
sections have been reactivated for the centres to function to its full
capacity.
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