From right: Director General, Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh and Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar during a partnership agreement meeting between NIMASA and the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated IUU fishing activities on Nigerian waters in Abuja recently.

The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency NIMASA is currently seeking partnership with Federal Ministry of Agriculture to curb illegal, unreported and unregulated IUU fishing activities on the nation’s waters.

Director General of the agency Dr. Bashir Jamoh, who asked for additional support during a recent meeting with the Minister of Agriculture, Dr. Mahmood Abubakar, described IUU as threat to source of livelihood of legitimate fishing investors, also decried the exposure of the marine environment to avoidable pollution through such unlawful fishing activities.

The DG explained that aside fighting piracy, sea robbery, oil theft and other maritime vices, the Deep Blue project which enjoys full support of President Muhammadu Buhari also aims at preventing unlawful commercial activities like unregulated fishing in our waters.

According to the DG, NIMASA is focusing on preventing marine pollution, which threatens aquatic life and jobs of trawler operators who have the requisite permits from the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development to embark on commercial fishing.

Jamoh, who also sought closer working relationship with the agricultural ministry, urged the minister to key into the Deep Blue Project of the agency considering the array of benefits it holds for agricultural investors in the marine environment.

The DG said: “Partnership has become imperative considering the supervisory role played by the agric ministry on fishing activities. We have been experiencing illegal fishing on our waters and the ministry charged with the responsibility of issuing certificates of approval to conduct fishing especially in commercial quantity is the Ministry of Agriculture. 

“We have resolved to collaborate, cooperate, coordinate and communicate with each other in terms of the legality and illegality of fishing in our own waters by the international community and the minister assured us of support.

“NIMASA is willing to work with the Minister of Agriculture and we have a Department of Fisheries and also the Quarantine in the agency. We are very much ready, to put together a formidable team that would work with the Deep Blue Project and we have the capacity of experienced members of staff that can participate and bring additional push to the project.

Meanwhile, the minister in response said the ministry was already aware of some of the issues concerning illegal fishing adding that the ministry and department officials are doing something about that. He assured the DG that that the Ministry will work with NIMASA with a view to curbing the scourge of illegal fishing activities on Nigeria’s waters.

Recall that President Buhari had earlier this year, commissioned the Deep Blue project assets, which are expected to protect the country’s waters from all forms of maritime crimes and degradation due to pollution, exploitation and illegal fishing by unlicensed local and foreign operators.