Nigeria has put all machineries in motion to partner with Stakeholders and experts in the fishery sector towards achieving the SDGs goals.
This assurance was given by the Senior Special Advicer to the President on SDGs Mrs Adejoke Orelope Adefulire at a 3 day national workshop on small scale fishery production in Lagos.
She said the workshop was necessary due to low patronage, neglect and several other continuous challenges in fishery sector of the economy.
The National workshop on small scale fishery production was organised by Lagos State University, with support from Food and Agricultural Organisation, FAO, WorldFish International support of fish workers.
Participants at the workshop agreed on implementation of guidelines for sustenable fishery production particularly the artisanal fishery.
Some of the guidelines are improving on the welfare of Fisherfolks, more government funding of Fisheries sector as well as collection and provision of gender disaggregated data that adequately capture the inputs of women in Fisheries.
The National stakeholders workshop was declared opened by the Vice-Chancellor of Lagos state University (LASU), Professor Ibiyemi Tunji-Bello.
Speaking, the Dean, Faculty of Science, Lagos State University who was the Chief convener of the Workshop, Professor Sheu Akintola said the conference was aimed at drawing awareness to the implementation of the SSF guidelines which came into being after series of negotiations.
He said this would also ensure sustainable development within the Small-Scale fishery sector.
On the need for guidelines for Small-Scale Fisheries in Nigeria, Professor Akintola stated that there were lots of challenges, globally, which affects fishery business.
“So here in Nigeria we are trying to draw the attention of the stakeholders, government, media, Human right practitioners, youths, fishers, academicians, CSO and everybody because of the challenges being faced by the fishers so that poverty is reduced to the bearest minimal in the sectors,” he stated.
Small-Scale Fisheries remain one of the important resources for developing countries in Africa, including Nigeria. According to Fishery and Aquacultural officer, FAO Regional office for Africa in Ghana, Dr.Dismas Mbabazi, about 90% of Fisheries are small scales which provide a source of food, income for National economy, a way of life for some people and also help in maintaining ecosystem and climate impact.
In his advice on the effective implementation of the SSF guidelines, Fishery & Aquaculture managament expert, Mr Obinna Anozie of the African Union InterAfrican Bureau for Animal resources (AU-IBAR) Kenya believed that having attracted top international organisations, the forum should create a platform for key actors.
He also called for the establishment mechanisms to enhance proper implementation of the guidelines in Nigeria.
The event attracted international experts and scholars notably, Ms Lena Westlund, International Fisheries Analyst, Food and Agriculture Organisation, Dr. Kendra Byrd, Senior Research Fellow, Nutrition and Food Systems University of Greenwich Natural Resources Institute, Dr. Philippa Cohen, Consultant to WorldFish and Adjunct Research Fellow at James Cook University, Australia, Prof. Emeritus Svein Jentoft, UiT the Arctic University of Norway.
Edited by Lateefah Ibrahim and Qasim Akinreti
