White Paper

Nigeria, being a coastal nation with a fishing industry imperative to the survival and well-being of its people, places heavy importance on a large supply of fish for consumption. In the early 1980’s, Nigeria began to place a heavy emphasis on fishing industry, fleet, and fish market expansion. Large, industrial fishing vessels were purchased from around the world by the government of Nigeria to expand its fishing fleet. This endeavor to increase seafood production in Nigeria is the largest, most expensive program ever undertaken in African history. Nigerian officials became interested in expanding the fishing industry when the 1973 drought reduced beef and chicken production. Since then, the Nigerian Government has encouraged the use of fish as a staple in the diet of Nigerians. Nigeria continues to produce a bountiful amount of fish to this day.

Nigeria sees nothing wrong with the fishing industry and waters of today, and desires to keep going strong. However, the people of Nigeria do see potential issues in the fishing industry that could hinder, or even stop, production of fish by means of fishing and aquaculture in the future. Nigeria would support a solution to problems such as these in order to increase security in the fishing market, global or otherwise.

The delegation from Nigeria believes that the most effective way to provide security and consistency for the fishing industries of the future is through extensive research and through close examination of the numbers of fish produced in a nation. Nigeria believes that the best way to keep fish in abundance is to stop the pollution of waters wherever possible and to closely monitor fishing vessels, fisheries, and other marine establishments for error and inconsistency. Measures should be put in place that counteract pollution, waste of fish and overfishing. Other measures that are put in place should promote clean and safe fishing and also promote a “take what is necessary” kind of approach toward...