COMMUNIQUE OF THE 29TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE
FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON) HELD AT ROYAL CHOICE INN, 20 GONDO ALUOR,
OLD GRA, LOBI QUARTERS, MAKURDI, BENUE STATE FROM 24TH – 28TH
NOVEMBER 2014
The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) held her 29th
Annual Conference at Royal Choice Inn, 20, Gondo Aluor Road, Old GRA, Lobi
Quarters, Makurdi, Benue State from 24th to 28th
November, 2014 with the theme:
‘Fisheries Productivity and Environmental Sustainability: Challenges of
achieving the National Transformation Agenda’.
Participants were drawn from the Academia, Fish Farmers, Feed
Producers, Fish Processors, Civil Servants, Non-Governmental Organizations,
Fish Marketers and Students.
The Conference was declared open by His Excellency, The Executive
Governor of Benue State, Rt. Hon. Dr. Gabriel T. Suswam, who was ably
represented by the Secretary to the Benue State Government, Dr. David Salifu.
The Keynote address entitled ‘Biotechnology in Fisheries’ was
presented by the Director-General of National Biotechnology Agency, Abuja,
Prof. Lucy Ogbadu. In addition, two
invited papers, titled: ‘Aquaculture Intensification, Productivity and
Sustainability’ by Dr. C.T. Madu, Ffs., Provost, Federal College of Freshwater
Fisheries Technology, New Bussa, Niger State and ‘Fish Processing and
Preservation, A New Approach’ by Dr. Roselyn Obande, Provost Federal College of
Freshwater Fisheries Technology, Baga, Borno State, were presented.
Scientific papers on different sub-themes of the Conference were presented
at the Technical Sessions. Also a book titled ‘Evolutionary Trends in Nigeria’s
Fisheries Development; written by one of the founding fathers of FISON, Mr.
Akinade A. Olaniawo, Ffs., was presented and launched, while a workshop on
Fishing gear and aquarium production was carried out for Students.
At the end of the Conference, participants:
(i)
Assessed the
Agricultural Transformation Action Plan of the Federal Government’s
transformation agenda and observed that FISON had not been engaged fully in the
Agricultural Transformation Agenda currently going on in Nigeria. Conferees therefore urge government to fully
involve professional bodies, Civil Societies and Producer organizations which
have been identified as one of the ‘major catalysts in the achievement of
sustainable sector reform policies worldwide.
(ii)
Expressed
concern over the absence of a National Fisheries Policy and our out-dated
Fisheries laws. Members therefore call
on government to quickly formulate a National Fisheries Policy in partnership
with all Stakeholders, so as to ensure best practices in Fisheries. Conferees also call for the immediate
enactment of the draft Fisheries Act 2014, which is a review and update of Inland
and Sea Fisheries decrees of 1992, sponsored by the European Commission, in
conjunction with relevant stakeholders in the sector.
(iii)
Call on
government once more, as a matter of
urgency, to implement the National Aquaculture Development Programme (NADP),
the Aquaculture Value Chain Programme and the Artisanal Fisheries Value Chain Project,
just as it’s being done in other commodities under the Ministry of
Agriculture’s mandate.
(iv)
Expressed
concern on the policy of ban on importation of fish and the subsequent granting
of licences for importation of same.
Conferees see this as contradicting in government import substitution
policy, and therefore recommend the complete stoppage of imported farmed Fish
which is now flooding our markets and killing local production and consequently
the economy. Members further suggested a
way of regulating fish importation and monies realized be used to set-up
Fisheries and aquaculture development fund to facilitate investment in the
sector.
(v)
Remind
Government to actualize without delay the political commitment of African Heads
of State as contained in the Abuja Declaration on Food Security as it relates
to Fisheries and Aquaculture.
(vi)
Call on
government to support the efforts of the Society towards professionalizing the
industry through Charter for international best practices.
(vii)
Observed
painfully that Monitoring, Surveillance and Control units in the Federal
Department of Fisheries and State Departments of Fisheries are un-equipped and
grossly under-staffed. Consequently, most
of our water bodies are being illegally fished and not monitored, while
Fisheries data are unreliable. Conferees
call on government to adequately fund our Departments of Fisheries, and recruit
more Fisheries graduates.
CONCLUSION
Participants expressed
satisfaction with the outgoing Executive Council and the Local Organizing
Committee (LOC) for a successful Conference.
Participants further appreciate the Government and people of Benue State
for their warm hospitality.
Communique Drafting Committee
1. Prof.
Victoria Ayuba - Chairperson
2. Prof. I.A.
Adikwu - Member
3. Prof. R.J. Kolo -
Member
4. Prof. L.O.
Tiamiyu -
Member
5. Dr. S.G.
Solomon -
Member
6. Dr. Tonbara' Kingdom - Secretary
