Nigerian decries fish extinction, advises watersiders to promote conservation

In commemoration of the 2020 World Environment Day Celebration in the face of the global coronavirus pandemic, one of the indigenes of Ogun State Waterside in Nigeria, Mr. Kabiru Abass, has advised his people to begin conservation of fisheries resources.

Mr Abbas, who advised the people, particularly the fishermen, noted that the community could no longer boost of fishes such as tilapia, ‘Obokun’ and Lele Ufe fish among others.

Abass, while disclosing this in an interview on Friday June 5, 2020, said, “Many towns in Ogun State waterside: Iwopin, Oni, Imakun, and Ode-omi in Ogun Waterside Local Government Area of Ogun State, had lost some species like Big Sarotherodon galileus, White Tilapia ‘wesafu’ Fish, Gymnarchus niloticus- Eja Osan, Chrisychitis nigrodigitatus- Obokun, Heterotis niloticus- Ajika, and Momyrus spp- Lele Ufe.

According to him, the extinction being experienced by the community was due to the practices of the fishermen.

“This is due to overfishing, obnoxious fishing approaches, and use of smaller mesh size nets among other unprofessional practices,” he noted.

He further stressed that he had developed many lesson plans and organized activities in line with the theme: ‘Time for Nature’ for the 2020 World Environment Day.

Mr Abbas added that he had begun sensitising children to the importance of conserving fisheries resources for today and the future as part of school activities to mark the World Environment Day in Iwopin, Ogun Waterside.

While appreciating the efforts of some fishermen towards conserving and rearing Manatee, “Ese” in ponds at Iwopin, as a way of eradicating Illegal Wildlife Trade “IWT”, Abass charged the children to talk to their fathers, uncles and brothers on the need to embrace sustainable fisheries by using larger mesh size nets, in order to reduce the size of fish brush parks “Iken”, and catching fish from Omi Ofo.

He said this would allow fish brush parks to stay for 7-11 months before harvesting and thinking about alternatives such as fish farming and cage culture among others in the Local Government.

Kabiru Eniabire as fondly called also charged associations of Fishermen, such as Egbe Oniken, Egbe Inifatiko, Egbe Alawo, Egbe Onigana, Olomi Oko, Elebiriki to come together in order to address the issue if they truly want future generations to see these fishes and continue to create employment for the people.