The Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) has said that the menace of illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing had led to the depletion of fishing trawlers in the country.

The President of the association, Mrs Benedette Okonkwo said this at the Zoe Maritime Resources Ltd., Maritime Business Roundtable Breakfast Meeting (MBRBM), on fishing and fisheries in Lagos.

She said their members had a combined fleet of over 250 vessels and over 20 fishing companies.

According to Okonkwo, the number of vessels drastically reduced to 150 vessels with about five presently struggling to survive.

She added that illegal fishing activities in the country was threatening Nigeria’s blue economy prospects.

Okonkwo called on the government to introduce initiatives that would boost the fishing industry.

“Also, government should do well to resucitate the Export Expansion Grant (EEG) Scheme, to make it more robust, workable and transparent,” she said.

She said that trawler owners were overburdened by overzealous government agencies overseeing sea fishing.

This, she said, was affecting the growth of the industry that should be a veritable source of local fish supply and foreign exchange earnings for the country.

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Source: Nigeria Tribune 

https://tribuneonlineng.com/illegal-fishing-cause-of-vessel-depletion-trawler-owners-say/