Nigeria’s ocean economy remains one of the country’s anchor sub-sectors, with maritime trade contributing 1.6 per cent and fisheries contributing 3-5 per cent to the GDP.
However, the government’s failure to manage and enforce the fishing policy has been a major issue drawing the sector back despite the relevant contribution from the sector.
Nigeria’s marine waters are home to over 6,000 species of high economic value, including crustaceans, sharks, rays, fish, and marine plants and mammals.
But despite being a vital source of food and nutrition security and a major source of livelihood for vulnerable coastal regions, the industry has been grappling with a myriad of challenges.
Giving her insights to the research carried out on the ocean industry in commemoration of the 2023 World Ocean Day, on the theme: Steering Gender to the Centre of Nigeria’s Ocean Economy funded by Africa Centre for Energy Policy and organised by Centre for Gender Economic, CGE Africa, the founder, Uchenna Idoko, disclosed there is a gender gap in the many value chains in the sectors of the Ocean Economy. For example, women occupy only 20 per cent of the workforce in fishing and aquaculture, and they tend to hold lower-paid jobs in the fishing industry.
According to her, globally, in 2016, only one in the top 100 seafood companies was run by a woman, and 54 per cent had no women on their boards.
Women can play a crucial role in protecting marine ecosystems, sustainably using marine resources, but they are denied access.
There is a smaller gender gap in ocean science than in science overall. Female scientists represent, on average, 38 per cent of the researchers in ocean science, about 10% higher than science overall.
In the marine sector, she said, little attention is paid to healthy oceans and human health. Pregnant women and children are susceptible to toxic materials contained in fish. Microplastics can cross the placental barrier and affect unborn children.
“Women are an integral part of the maritime workforce, contributing to the success of shipping lines, ports, onshore services and more in Nigeria, yet, they are not as visible as men.”