The International Maritime Institute of Nigeria (IMION) has unveiled a five-pillar strategic framework aimed at reversing the decline in Nigeria’s fisheries sector, protecting coastal livelihoods and strengthening the country’s food security.
The Director-General of IMION, Rear Admiral Thaddeus Christopher Udofia (rtd), Ph.D., presented the framework at the National Conference of the Maritime Correspondents’ Organisation of Nigeria (MARCON), held at Rockview Hotel, Apapa, Lagos.
Speaking on the theme, “Sustainable Fishing in Nigeria—Pathways to Growth, Food Security and Coastal Livelihoods,” Udofia called for a fundamental shift in the management of Nigeria’s marine resources, stressing the need for disciplined implementation, scientific data and measurable performance indicators.
“Let me be clear regarding sustainability: we cannot expect to harvest tomorrow what we ruthlessly destroy, allow others to destroy, or neglect to nurture today,” he said.
He added: “To transition from vulnerability to long-term sustainability and food security, Nigeria must boldly chart a new course defined by disciplined execution and measurable performance indicators.”
According to him, the strategy is designed to harness Nigeria’s growing Blue Economy while confronting illegal fishing, declining fish stocks, post-harvest losses and the vulnerability of coastal communities.
The first pillar, Unified Regulatory Enforcement, calls for harmonisation of the responsibilities of maritime security agencies, port economic regulators and fisheries authorities.
Udofia said the Nigerian Navy’s achievements in suppressing piracy and combating Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing should be expanded systematically across the domestic fisheries sector.
Under the second pillar, Data-Driven Maritime Policy, IMION urged the Federal Government to empower research institutions such as the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) and IMION to generate reliable data on fish stocks.
The institute said policies covering catch limits, closed fishing seasons and marine protected areas should be based on credible scientific evidence and strictly enforced.
The third pillar, Aggressive Aquaculture Transition, advocates a decisive shift from dependence on unpredictable wild-capture fisheries to technology-driven aquaculture.
Udofia identified modern cage-culture systems in coastal lagoons as having the potential to increase fish production, while calling for investment in cold-chain infrastructure, processing technology and institutional training to curb post-harvest losses.
He said such measures would help transform fishing from a subsistence activity into a structured wealth-generating enterprise, particularly for women and young people.
The fourth pillar, Advanced Intelligence Monitoring, focuses on deploying technology to strengthen marine surveillance and management.
IMION called for the immediate deployment of advanced Vessel Monitoring Systems (VMS), satellite surveillance and stricter enforcement of catch quotas to monitor industrial fishing activities and protect the ability of marine ecosystems and coastal communities to regenerate.
The fifth pillar, Community-Led Co-Management, seeks to give coastal communities a greater role in protecting and managing Nigeria’s fisheries.
Udofia argued that government enforcement alone would not guarantee sustainable fishing, stressing that coastal residents who have depended on marine resources for generations should be incorporated into the management system.
He advocated institutionalising Community-Based Fisheries Management (CBFM), with local cooperative societies empowered with legitimate co-management rights.
According to him, giving communities a legal stake in the protection of marine resources would encourage them to become frontline defenders against destructive fishing practices.
The IMION chief maintained that implementing the five-pillar framework would strengthen Nigeria’s Blue Economy, protect livelihoods and improve the country’s capacity to meet its growing food needs.
