Fishing sector underfunded – NIMASA
THE Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency, NIMASA has said that the fishing sector is currently underfunded, this has given rise to illegal fishing activities on the nation’s coastal and territorial waters.
The agency in a statement signed by the Public Relations Officer, Chinweizu Amuta, said that the illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing makes it almost impossible to accurately state the full global economic impacts resulting from these illegal activities.
The agency said that IUU fishing activities violate both national and international fishing regulations with the issue being of global concern as it threatens ocean ecosystems and sustainable fisheries.
“Recently, the House of Representatives noted that the country loses $70 million each year to illegal fishing. This includes loss of licence fees, revenue from taxation and the value that could have been accrued from legitimate fishing by local vessels.
