By Ojugbele Omotunde
Artisanal fishermen in Nigeria are the backbone of the country’s food security and livelihoods. They produce more than 80% of the fish consumed by Nigerians and provide employment for millions of people along the coastlines.
However, they also face many challenges such as overfishing, pollution, climate change, and lack of access to markets and finance.
To address these issues, a group of fishermen from different states have formed FishNet Alliance, a coalition that advocates for sustainable fishing practices and policy reforms.
The alliance aims to educate and involve artisanal fishermen in decision-making processes that affect their lives and the environment.
One of their recent campaigns is to raise awareness about the Ororo-1 oil well fire that broke out off the coast of Awoye, Ondo State, in October 2023.
The fire released large amounts of greenhouse gases and hydrocarbons into the air and water, posing serious threats to human health and marine ecosystems. The alliance urged the government to take immediate action to contain the fire and prevent further damage.
Another campaign is to support and promote communities like Kono in Ogoniland that have preserved mangrove areas through traditional and local means. Mangroves are vital for protecting coastal communities from storms, erosion, flooding, and saltwater intrusion. They also provide habitat for many fish species and other wildlife.
The alliance called on policymakers to include artisanal fishermen in the
policy-making process that aims to conserve and restore mangroves.
The alliance believes that artisanal fishermen have a wealth of knowledge and experience that can help shape policies that benefit both people and the environment. They also believe that by working together with other stakeholders, they can create a more resilient and prosperous future for themselves and their communities.
The theme for World Fisheries Day 2023 is “Build Enabling Policy Environments for Small-scale Artisanal Fisheries”. The alliance hopes that this theme will inspire action from governments, civil society, private sector, media, and consumers to support small-scale fishers and protect aquatic environments.
