Business
FISON Wants Fisheries Act
The Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) has called on the Rivers State government to facilitate the passage of the fisheries Act in order to regulate the activities of fisheries in the state.
Speaking with The Tide in an exclusive interview, the chairman of FISON, Rivers State branch, Dr Awoteinm George said the Act, when passed into law, will go a long way to attract foreign investors in the state.
According to him, several attempts had been made to ensure that the Act is passed into law, but to no avail.
The disadvantage is that it does not give the state the required recognition for interested international Agencies to Support fishing activities in the state because there is no regulation in fisheries activities, no environmental protection in both capture and culture fish.
He stated further that there is less investment in fisheries department at the Rivers State University of Science and Technology (RSUST) by government and stakeholders, noting that “the fisheries department of RSUST was the pioneer degree awarding institution in Nigeria, but there had been less investment in the department”.
Dr George, who is also a senior lecturer in the department of fisheries, RSUST, said the department has been neglected for so long, and no practical work is done to encourage students to be interested in the department.
“It has been neglected for years, no equipment to work with, no facilities for practical work as well as training activities that will encourage students to seek admission into the department,” he explained.
Sogbeba Dokubo