2 October 2008
Lagos — Federal Government has concluded arrangements to set up three centres in Oyo, Ekiti and Adamawa States for training in shrimp farming.
The Director, Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF), Mr. Shola Armire, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos after the completion of the U.S. marine experts inspection of the compliance of Nigerian fishing vessels with the Turtle Device Equipment (TED) that the centres would be completed in 2009.
Armire said Nigeria has the potential for shrimp farming, which could enhance local consumption, export and generation of foreign exchange.
He said the centres would start with fresh water and eventually expand to blackish water, which would boost shrimp farming in the country.
According to him, the federal government will partner with the private sector in establishing fingerling production in various states.
"We have concluded arrangements to partner with the private sector to use the dams for fingerling production," he said.
Armire said the U.S. team was led by the U.S Consulate in Lagos to inspect the vessel and that the team was impressed with the level of compliance of Nigerian fishing vessels.
Nigeria he said had always been certified by the U.S. at previous inspections and that such development had enabled her to export shrimp, fish and fishery products to the U.S. Europe and the other international markets.
The sector, according to him, contributes over $600 million in foreign exchange earnings to the economy and employs more than 500,000 skilled and unskilled workers.
He said the federal government had started an aggressive campaign to discourage people from hunting for turtle at sea.
"We conducted a research and discovered that turtle, which has been classified as endangered specie, exists in the nation's territorial water and observed that some individuals catch it for consumption and for sale," he said.
Reacting to the outcome of the U.S. inspection team, Mrs. Margaret Orakwusi, Vice President, Nigeria trawler Owners Association (NITOA), said the implication of the compliance to the TED was that her members would not be able to catch the big fish. Orakwusi, however, urged the federal government to make the sea safe to boost maritime activities in the country.
"Our vessels are being attacked on daily bases at the high sea and the new dimension is that the vessels are being taken hostage with demands for ransom," she said.
According to her, if the activities of the pirates are not checked, it could likely affect the commercial vessels that bring in goods into the country.
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