‘Local fish production falls short of national demand’

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The Sea Empowerment & Research Centre, a maritime research organisation, has warned that trends in Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector show that domestic fish production continues to lag significantly behind national demand.

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SEREC added that despite ongoing investments under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Nigeria still consumes substantially more fish than it produces locally, leaving a considerable supply deficit that is largely met through imports.

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The group stated this in its special mid-year maritime security & blue economy bulletin signed by the Head of Research at SEREC, Eugene Nweke, obtained by The PUNCH.

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SEREC emphasised that the production gap in the fishing and aquaculture sector represents not only a food security challenge but also a missed economic opportunity.

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“SEREC’s review of developments within Nigeria’s fisheries and aquaculture sector reveals that local fish production continues to fall significantly below national demand. Despite ongoing investments under the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, Nigeria still consumes substantially more fish than it produces locally, leaving a considerable supply deficit that is largely met through imports.

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This production gap represents not only a food security challenge but also a missed economic opportunity,” SEREC said.

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The body stressed that the fisheries sector possesses enormous potential to generate employment, improve rural livelihoods, strengthen food security, conserve foreign exchange and stimulate non-oil exports if adequately supported through deliberate policy interventions.

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It nevertheless lamented that high feed costs, limited access to affordable financing, inadequate cold-chain infrastructure, post-harvest losses, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, weak processing facilities and climate-related pressures continue to constrain sectoral growth.

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SEREC recommends accelerated investment in commercial aquaculture, fish hatcheries, modern processing facilities, cold-chain logistics, fisheries financing and stronger enforcement against illegal fishing activities.

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“A vibrant fisheries industry remains indispensable to Nigeria’s Blue Economy aspirations and should occupy a strategic position within the nation’s economic diversification agenda,” it added.

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The group pointed out that securing the nation’s ports against organised transnational crime while simultaneously unlocking the immense economic potential of fisheries and the Blue Economy must remain complementary national priorities.

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SEREC therefore called for sustained investment in maritime security architecture, technology-driven trade facilitation, institutional collaboration, fisheries development and private sector participation to position Nigeria as a secure, competitive and globally respected maritime nation.

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“Only through coordinated policy implementation and stakeholder commitment can Nigeria fully realise the economic, security and developmental benefits of its maritime resources,” it concluded.

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