The Federal Government will partner with Norway to use satellite surveillance against illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing. The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed this on Monday. He spoke when Norway’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, paid him a courtesy visit in Abuja.
Nigeria’s waters are rich in fish stocks. They are also poorly policed. Foreign vessels fish illegally. They sell the catch back to Nigerians at high prices. The practice costs the economy billions annually. It also depletes local stocks. Nigeria lacks the surveillance capacity to patrol its exclusive economic zone. The Navy and NIMASA have limited vessels. Satellite monitoring offers a cheaper alternative. Norway has expertise in maritime surveillance. The Blue Justice Initiative provides free satellite vessel-tracking data.
Baera introduced Nigeria to the Blue Justice Initiative. The programme provides free satellite vessel-tracking data to help countries monitor maritime activities. He invited Nigeria to join the Blue Justice Community to identify suspicious vessel movements. That includes vessels operating without transmitting tracking signals. The initiative provides real-time and historical data. It supports maritime surveillance, fisheries protection and law enforcement.
Oyetola commended Norway. He assured that Nigeria would join the programme. He lamented that foreign operators were illegally harvesting fish in Nigerian waters and reselling them to Nigerians at exorbitant prices. He said the government was determined to end the exploitation. It would boost local fish production and conserve foreign exchange. He said protecting Nigerian waters was both an environmental responsibility and an economic imperative.
Winners: Nigerian fishermen, who face less competition. The Federal Government, which gains surveillance capacity. The economy, which gains foreign exchange. Norway, which gains influence. Local fish producers, who gain market share. Losers: Foreign illegal fishing operators, who face detection. Importers of frozen fish, who lose market share. Smugglers, who face enforcement. The government, if it fails to act on the data.
Bottom Line: Norway offered Nigeria free satellite data. Nigeria accepted. Illegal fishing costs billions. The data can help. Enforcement is the test. Without patrol vessels to act on the intelligence, the data is just pictures.