COMMUNIQUE ISSUED AT THE END OF THE 37TH ANNUAL NATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE FISHERIES SOCIETY OF NIGERIA (FISON) HOSTED BY ITS ADAMAWA STATE CHAPTER AT YOLA BETWEEN 30TH OCTOBER - 4TH NOVEMBER 2022.
Theme of the conference: National Insecurity and Challenges of Fish Production: The role of private and industrial sectors
PREAMBLE
The 37th National Annual Conference of the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) with the theme “National Insecurity and Challenges of Fish Production: The role of private and industrial sectors.” was successfully hosted by the Adamawa State chapter of FISON with the support of Adamawa state government at the Federal College of Education, Yola from Sunday 30th October to Friday 4th November 2022. It was attended by 250 participants that cut across the academia, fisheries professionals, students, private sector, state, and non-state actors from the six geopolitical zones of the country.
The five days conference was aimed at improving fish production by the private and industrial sector and the possibilities of using fisheries and aquaculture potentials to overcome prevailing insecurity.
Participants were enlightened and informed on the role of the shrinking Lake Chad due to climate change and its attendant effect on the intra-African fish trade which reduction has translated into job loss and eventual insecurity across our nation and sub-continent.
The opening session of the conference was chaired by the Executive Governor of Adamawa State, His Excellency, Rt Hon. Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri represented by his Chief of staff, Professor Maxwell Gidado and the Keynote address was delivered by Distinguished Professor Anetekhai Martins, a fellow of the Society. Other notable speakers that doubled as discussants were Prof. Jude Momoh on insecurity and Dr. Raji Aminu, Ffs a former Executive Director/CEO Nigerian Institute for Fresh water Fisheries who dissected issues militating fish production as presented by the keynote speaker.
The different days of the conference were characterized with technical sessions where research findings were presented for consideration by several experts in addition to talks on Fisheries Governance strategies for effective sector administration delivered by Dr Abba Yakubu Abdullahi, Ffs (special Adviser on Agriculture and Natural resources to Katsina state Governor). Other activities include Symposium on challenges of fisheries data management in Nigeria presented by Dr. Abubakar Yaji of Modibo Adama University, Yola and a seminar on Challenges of Fish farmers in National development delivered by Prof. Abubakar Kotos of Modibo Adama University. The conference also witnessed other activities such as the Fish Farmers and stakeholder’s forum, Student induction, professional fellowship investitures, award ceremonies among several others. The activities were rounded up with the annual general meetings of the society which heralded the emergence of new executives that will manage the affairs of the society for the next two years. Dr. Adegoke Lukman Agbabiaka, Ffs led his team of National executives to bow out to the newly elected National executive council headed by Dr. Ebinimi Ansa, Ffs as the President.
After robust discussions on issues relating to fisheries and aquaculture production and management, the following observations and recommendations were made:
Observations
The participants at the conference observed that:
The delay in the signing of the Chartered bill on the Fisheries Institute of Nigeria is a major hindrance to major advocacy effort of the society
Environmental degradation, ignorance, poor governance, and political issues are major problems that resulted into national insecurity.
Shrinking of Lake Chad was a major problem to fisheries production from the northeast and eventual job loss
Lack of political will and poor resources on the part of government is a major problem militating against the needed desilting and impoundment of Lake Chad to further enhance fisheries and agricultural practices.
Lack of reliable data base on existing fisheries and Aquaculture value chain for robust policy formulation on demand and trade supply which has created poor trade link between Nigeria and other African countries.
Outdated syllabi that are no longer relevant to present day fisheries and aquaculture development persist in our tertiary institutions
Inadequate data bank on capture fisheries and aquaculture production, number of fish farmers, artisanal fishermen details, Fisheries schools details and other information leading to data deficiencies, inaccurate, assumed, and falsified data. Fisheries data generation and management were observed to be very poor
Lack of Fisheries commission is creating excess bureaucratic bottlenecks in the fisheries sector of the ministry of Agriculture
RECOMMENDATIONS
The participant at the conference recommended the following:
That FISON should step up its advocacy effort and engage the appropriate authority on the need to address the persistent problems confronting the farmers and fisherfolks
The conference recommends a united stand on Lake Chad reactivation by its desilting and impoundment by the stakeholder West African countries to stem the wave of militancy in that region to stem insecurity across the sub-region.
There is urgent need to apply good governance to solve insecurity in the country.
The participants emphasized the needs to incorporate the new invasive seaweed (sargassum species) into the fisheries value chain because of its numerous economic importance.
There must be an effective Public-Private Partnership (PPP) aimed to mobilize resources to improve on security, academic and research activities in the fishery sector.
The need to adjust the fishery and aquaculture curricula or syllabi of our tertiary institutions to reflect the need of the industrial sector.
Research activities should be industry and demand driven to meet the challenges of the day.
Fish feeds should be made from good quality materials and must be devoid of contamination i.e., chemicals and biological. They should also be properly handled to ensure that the quality is preserved
Revival of fisheries statistics committees for the States and Federal Government was advocated.
There is the need for partnership between FDF&A, NITDA and States for the development of FISH DAS software.
Participants recommends that NEC should monitor the activities of the state chapters of FISON to motivate them and make them more active.
FISON applauded the contribution of Adamawa State Government in boosting the Fishery and Aquaculture sub-sectors. For instance, establishment of State Ministry for Livestock and Aquaculture Development and full support to FISON Adamawa State to host 2022 Conference of the Society.
Signed:
Prof. Sogbesan, Amos Olukayode
Dr. Abdullahi Orire
Dr. Babangida Abdulkarim
