Nigeria has stepped up efforts to combat illegal fishing and protect its marine resources through a partnership with Norway to deploy satellite-based vessel-tracking data to detect suspicious maritime activities.
The initiative, being implemented under Norway’s Blue Justice programme, is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to identify vessels operating covertly in its waters and enforce regulations against illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing.
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Adegboyega Oyetola, disclosed the development in a statement posted on X on Monday following a meeting with Norway’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera.
Oyetola said the collaboration would help authorities monitor maritime movements more effectively and tackle the activities of foreign fishing trawlers accused of exploiting Nigeria’s marine resources.
According to the minister, illegal fishing is undermining the livelihoods of local fishermen, hurting legitimate businesses and depriving the country of revenue that could contribute to economic development.
He also expressed concern that fish harvested illegally from Nigerian waters were subsequently sold in the domestic market at exorbitant prices.
“It is unacceptable that fish harvested from our waters through illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing are brought back into Nigeria and sold to our people at exorbitant prices,” Oyetola said.
The minister explained that access to satellite-based tracking data would improve the government’s ability to identify suspected offenders, monitor vessel movements and strengthen enforcement against illegal fishing and other maritime crimes.
He added that the Federal Government was committed to preventing unauthorised operators from depleting the country’s aquatic resources and threatening the economic survival of fishing communities.
“We will not allow illegal operators to undermine the livelihoods of our fishermen, deprive Nigeria of legitimate revenue or threaten the sustainability of our aquatic resources,” he said.
Oyetola said the government’s broader objective was to expand domestic fish production, reduce reliance on imported fish, generate employment and conserve foreign exchange.
The partnership forms part of efforts to improve maritime governance while ensuring that Nigeria’s fisheries contribute to economic growth without undermining the long-term sustainability of its marine resources.
