Fishermen operating in Nigeria’s Akwa Ibom Atlantic shorelines attributed the current fish scarcity in the state to the oil spill from Bonga oil fields operated by Shell Nigeria Development Company.
Some of the fishermen told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the withdrawal order issued to them by the National Oil Spills Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), had limited their activities.
Rev. Samuel Ayadi, Akwa Ibom chapter Chairman of Artisan Fishermen Association of Nigeria (ARFAN), said that they had complied with the directive.
“The scarcity of fish being experienced by Nigerians is largely a result of the Bonga oil spill, which is situated in the deep sea where we were making big catches.
“Since December 22, 2011 none of our members has gone to sea and the supply of fish has dwindled.
“The fish you see in the market now are the ones caught before the spill and the stock held by middlemen. There is a decline in supply because of the directive and if the situation remains the same, then prices will go up further because the middlemen will capitalise on the situation.
“We are hoping that the regulators of the oil industry would expedite action and certify the waters safe again, so that we can return to work in earnest, because the spill has thrown more than 6,000 fishermen out of business in the past three weeks,” Ayadi said.
According to him, a stick of smoked “bonga” fish containing 10 pieces now sells at N1,600 as against N700, while a stick of 10 sardine fish sells for N1, 200 compared with its former price of N500.
A basin of crayfish also rose to N17, 000 from N10, 000 in the open market, he lamented.
Ayadi said that about eight neighbouring states depended on Akwa Ibom for fish and other seafoods.
Meanwhile, an investigation by NAN at Ibeno fish market in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom, showed that prices of frozen fish and other seafoods have also gone up.
A kilogramme of croaker fish now sells for N1,400 compared with the earlier price of N800, NAN learnt.
One kilogramme of redsnapper fish also goes for N1,400 from N1, 000, while Baracuda fish sells for N1,600 as against N1,000 per kilogramme.
All Africa.com, 2011