Bayelsa FISON has a new Exco

The Bayelsa State Chapter of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) has a new Executive. Members of the the Executive include:

Prof. Abiodun O. Adeyemo                           Chairperson
Mr. Dorrick Oginike                                      Vice Chairperson
Mr. Duke Eduke                                             Secretary
Mr. Woyinpreye Mebine                                Assistant Secretary
Mr. Phillip Inegite                                          Treasurer
Dr. Tonbara' Kingdom                                    Editor

Wishing them goodluck in their various assignments

USAID/MARKETS II Pre/In-Season ToT Aquaculture Training in Ekpan, Ughelli, Kwale and Benin

Memories of the 30th annual conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria ( FISON ) held in Asaba, Delta State

COMMUNIQUE OF THE 30TH ANNUAL CONFERENCE OF THE FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON)

The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) held her 30^th Annual Conference at the ETF Hall, Delta State University, Asaba Campus, Asaba from 23^rd to 27^th November 2015 with the theme: “The Fisheries Sub-sector in a Declining Oil-based Economy: Paradigm Shift for Economic Diversification and Employment Generation”.

Participants were drawn from the Academia, Fish Farmers, Feed Producers, Fish Processors, Civil Servants, Non-Governmental Organizations, International Community, Fish Marketers and Students.

The Conference was declared opened by His Excellency, the Executive Governor of Delta State, Senator Dr. Arthur Ifeanyi Okowa, who was ably represented by the Secretary to the Delta State Government, Hon. Ovie Agas.

The Keynote address entitled “The Fisheries Sub-sector in a Declining Oil-based Economy: Paradigm Shift for Economic Diversification and Employment Generation” was delivered by the former Vice Chancellor of Federal University of Technology (FUTA), Akure, Ondo State, Prof. Adebisi M, Balogun, ffs. In addition, Dr. (Mrs) Achor, who represented the Executive Secretary of the National University Commission (NUC) gave a goodwill message.

An award/Dinner night was held on the 25^th of November 2015, where ambassadorial and merit awards were given to two State Governors and others. These are:

·        His Excellency, Sen. Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa – Governor, Delta State

·        His Excellency, Chief (DR.) Willie O. Obiano – Governor, Anambra State

·     Hon. Afam C. Mbanefo -        Hon. Commissioner, Ministry of    Agriculture, Natural Resources and Rural Development

·  Hon. Emeka M. Iloghalu – Special Adviser to Anambra State Governor on Fisheries

Scientific papers on different sub-themes of the Conference were presented at the Technical Sessions. Also, in the Farmer’s Forum, Dr. G.A. Akande, ffs, the Executive Director of Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), presented an invited paper titled “Encouraging value addition through Value Chain approaches in Fisheries and Aquaculture Businesses”. Mr. Misan Edema, the Market Development Officer, Aquaculture Value Chain, PIND Foundation, also delivered an invited paper titled “Growing the Aquaculture Sector using Market Development Approach”, while Hon. Afam C. Mabanefo presented a paper titled “Revolution in Aquaculture: Anambra State Experience”.

At the end of the Conference, the participants agreed to henceforth emphasize a business approach to all Fisheries and Aquaculture production. To achieve this, participants concluded that there must be value addition to the Fisheries Value Chains of supply and the willingness of Government at various levels of Federal, State and Local to focus on investing in the Fisheries Sub-sector of the economy.

Participants also reaffirmed the importance of Fisheries and Aquaculture as integral part of agriculture, which has the capacity to increase the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP) and can solve the unemployment problem of our teeming youths, if adequately managed.

Conferees expressed concern over:

       I.            The challenges experienced in meeting the large deficit in the fish supply/demand and over-independence on fish importation

    II.            The obsolete laws and inconsistency in fisheries policies

 III.            The inadequate input support for fish feed and seed for aquaculture and the near collapse of infrastructural and technical support for industrial and artisanal fisheries

IV.            Poor budgetary allocation and funding to the fisheries sub-sector.

Participants, therefore, call on Government to improve budget allocation to fisheries sub-sector in line with the Maputo agreement on agriculture budgetary allocation. In light of the dwindling revenues, as a result of the fall in price of crude oil in the international market, participants emphasized the need for Government to provide stimulus to galvanize the Fisheries Sub-sector by giving a zero import duty on all Fisheries and Aquaculture inputs, while interest rate on aquacultural and fisheries allied investments should be pegged between 1 and 2.5 percent.

CONCLUSION                                                                                                  Participants resolved that 2016 Conference be held in Kastina State, while Lagos State should host the 2017 edition of the FISON National Conference. Participants expressed satisfaction with the Local Organising Committee (LOC) for a successful Conference and appreciates the various sponsors and the good people and Government of Delta State for their hospitality.

Communique Drafting Committee                                                                           Prof. Samuel Zelibe                                                                                                   Prof. Clarkson Edema (JP)                                                                                         Prof. Hakeem Fashina-Bombatta                                                                                  Dr. Jerry K. Ekelemu                                                                                                    Dr. Tonbara’ Kingdom

COMMUNIQUE OF THE INNOVATION PLATFORM MEETING OF FISON

The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) held the Innovation Platform meeting at the Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research, Victoria Island, Lagos between Monday 9th and Tuesday 10th November 2015 with the aim of repositioning the fisheries sub-sector for our National fish sufficiency and food fish sovereignty.
Stakeholders were drawn from the Academia, Fish Farmers, Feed Producers, Fish Processors, Civil Servants, Fish Marketers and Non-Governmental Organizations.

The meetings were co-chaired by the National President of Catfish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFAN), Chief Tayo Akingbolagun and the Chairman of Council of Fellows (COF), Prof. E. O. Faturoti, Ffs. Goodwill messages were given by representatives of NITOA, CAFAN, TADAN, FDF, Nigerian Navy and the Advocacy for Fisheries group, among others.

Stakeholders were broken into three main Innovation Platforms and deliberated on the following issues:
• Certification processes in Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Marketing strategy for local and export markets
• Networking among stakeholders including governance issue
• Value chain mapping
• Development of demand driven research
• Extension technology issues
• Fish health management
• Guideline of the charter issue of FISON
After two days of deliberation, stakeholders were able to develop guidelines for the operations of fisheries and aquaculture in Nigeria. These guidelines include the visions for the various platforms, procedures for certification and standardization of fish products and charter of fisheries professionals. Also included in the guidelines were strategies for enrolling relevant fisheries professionals and proper monitoring and surveillance of our industrial and artisanal fisheries.
Stakeholders also agreed that fisheries is a business and therefore re-emphasize their earlier call that there should be a stimulus to galvanize the fisheries sub-sector, such as:
• Zero import duty on all fisheries and aquacultural inputs be implemented
• That a regime of 1 and 2.5 percent interest rate for aquacultural and fisheries allied enterprises be implemented to enable local fisheries enterprises to stand with foreign investors who come into the country with cheap funds.
CONCLUSION
Stakeholders summarily agreed that FISON (as a lobby group) in collaboration with FDF, NIOMR, NIFFR, NAFDAC, NEPC, SON, FAO, UNDP, JICA, Worldfish, SMOA’s, MSADP’s, e.t.c should manage the certification, endorsements and accreditation needs of the fisheries sub-sector activities, especially under its charter registration outlook.