MANAGEMENT AND POLICY FRAMEWORKS FOR ILLEGAL, UNREPORTED AND UNREGULATED (IUU) FISHING IN NIGERIAN WATERS

Abstract 
The study examines the management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Nigerian waters, how maintaininga legal and regulated fishing system in Nigeria is a pre-requisite for the growth and development of the Nigerian economy, to examine theprevalence of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters, to examine the consequences of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters, to examine factors that has militated against cordial management of fishing in Nigeria, to propose ways of improving fishing in Nigerian waters. 
The methodology of the study cited the population of the study area with the sampling techniques used to ascertain the sampling size for this research work. It also explained the mode of data collection and analysis; Questionnaires were used to sample people’s opinion while carrying out the survey. The researcher discarded the secondary data designs so as to get new, accurate findings and data analysis on the subject matter.  
Base on finding, the study has the sample size of one hundred (100) respondents. From the result and the conclusion of this study, the following recommendations are made by the researcher,fishing should be properly managed and well regulated, it would pave room for more Nigerians to become interested in fishing and by so doing, more and more corporate individuals and even the government will begin to appreciate and support the idea behind fishing in Nigeria.

CHAPTER ONE 
INTRODUCTION 
1.1     BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY 
West Africa’s waters are endowed with one of the world’s richest concentration of finfish, crustaceans and mollusks (Tobor, 1989). In contrast, its coastal fishing communities are amongst the most impoverished and therefore vulnerable to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing by foreign fishing vessels (FAO, 1995). The increased efforts of the present administration in Nigeria to drive the development of the fisheries industry which has been taking shape to the applause of many stakeholders, is being plagued with a major challenge of illegal fishing in its territorial waters, which according to a recent report by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) results in an annual loss of over $60 million and has been identified as a major clog in the wheel of the development of the sub-sector.Many marine and coastal ecosystems are close to collapse due to Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing, also known as Pirate fishing. Global losses from IUU fishing range from $10bn – $23.5billion annually as the harvest from IUU fishing represents almost one-fifth of the entire global catch. 
IUU fishing is easy and highly lucrative due to lack of monitoring and enforcement especially in West Africa. These pirates target places called Inshore Exclusive Zones (IEZ) – which were created to protect shallow coastal waters where fishes come to reproduce (FAO, 2001). They target high value species whilst generating a huge amount of unwanted by-catch which is then tossed into the oceans dead or dying.Coastal communities across West Africa are reporting a dramatic decline in the amount of fishes caught (FAO, 2001). As a result, they spend longer time at sea for fewer and smaller fish. This is because the rate of harvest far outstrips that of replenishment. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) in its 2015 biennial report to Congress on IUU fishing has identified Nigeria as one of the six nations including Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico, Nicaragua and Mexico in which IUU fishing is very rampant and as such is threatening the current efforts to secure long term sustainable fisheries as well as promote healthier and more robust ecosystems.In a bid to tackle the situation, the United States has declared that if any of the listed nations do not take sufficient action as well as receive a positive certification in the next biennial report, it may prohibit the import of fisheries products from that nation and deny port privileges to their fishing vessels. In Nigeria, the fisheries resources poached within territorial waters include shrimps, tuna, and sharks, among others. The estimated value of catches exploited by IUU fishing is enormous, up to30 million US dollars per annum. It is unfortunate that illegal fishing activities, particularly those committed by foreign private fishing vessels, continue unabated and unchallenged due to the lack of an adequate monitoring, control and surveillance structure with regards to both equipment and management systems in the developing West Africa sub-region. Nigeria with her vast coastlines,is blessed with valuable aquatic resources of commercial interest, particularly in the global market. It would therefore be desirable to undertake a detailed study of IUU activities in order to stop illegal plundering of fisheries resources in the West African Country of Nigeria through proper management and policy framework. It is envisaged that this would contribute to the attainment of sustainable fisheries management in Nigeria and the West Africa sub-region at large. 
1.2     STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM 
Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU)Fisheries are a global phenomenon which require an international, holistic and coordinated approach in order to stem these distasteful activities. Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing has many facets and motivations, although the mostobvious underlying motivations are driven by economic considerations. Other considerations likely to contributeto IUU fishing include the existence of excess fleet capacity, the payment of government subsidies (where they maintain or increase capacity), strong market demand for particular products, weak national fishery administration (includingweak reporting systems), poor regional fisheries management, and ineffective monitoring, control and surveillance (MCS) including the lackof vessel monitoring systems (VMS). A key consideration in addressing IUU fishing is the need to achieve effective flag State control over the operations of fishing vessels. However, this study will examine the management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
1.3     OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY 
The following are the objectives of this study: 
1.     To examine the prevalence of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
2.     To examine the consequences of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
3.     To examine the management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
1.4     RESEARCH QUESTIONS 
1.     What is the prevalence of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters? 
2.     What are the consequences of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters? 
3.     What are the management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters? 
1.5     RESEARCH HYPOTHESES           
Hypothesis 1: 
H0:    There are no consequences of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters.
H1: There are consequences of illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
Hypothesis 2: 
H0:    There are no management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
H1:    There are management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters 
1.6     SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 
The following are the significance of this study: 
1.     The outcome of this study will educate the general public on the prevalence, consequences, management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters. 
2.     This research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area 
1.7     SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY 
This study will cover all issues related to the prevalence, consequences, management and policy frameworks for illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing in Nigerian waters.
LIMITATION OF STUDY 
Financial constraint– Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview). 
Time constraint– The researcher will simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.

You May Also Like

A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF JEAN-JACQUES ROUSSEAU’S CONCEPT OF INEQUALITY

The question of inequality appears to be a very topical issue in the 21st century. This is because it has brought about chaos, poverty and strives in the society, especially among the female gender. With inequality, people are maltreated as humans; they are used as means to an end instead of an end in themselves. This was what prompted Jean Jacques Rousseau to interrogate the issue of inequality. For Rousseau, the rise of inequality in the society owes its strength and growth to the development of our faculties and the advancement of the human mind and this became permanent and legitimate through the establishment of property and laws. From the above, it becomes clear that property and society have not only helped to facilitate a higher standard of living, but also endorse inequality among human beings. Employing the critical analytic method, this research interrogates the problem of inequality by Jean Jacques Rousseau and it was palpable that inequality is present in our society and it cannot be totally wiped out because it has led to an establishment of an organized society through the implementation of laws. However, to forestall abuse and the negative burden of inequality, the burden of cruelty should be removed, the oppressed should be enlightened and human reason should take precedence over sentiment in our mode of operation.
Read More