LG Chairmen, Fishermen Resolve Fishing Method Conflict

Andoni fishermen in Akuku Toru Local Government Area of Rivers State have agreed with the Local Government Council to collaborate to end the prolonged face-off over illegal and unregulated fishing methods in the smaller rivers and creeks of the area.
The agreement was reached Monday, at Abonnema, headquarters of Akuku-Toru Local Government Area, following a meeting involving Chairmen of Akuku-Toru and Andoni Local Government Areas, fisheries Department senior officials from the two Local Government Areas, and security officers.
The Tide gathered that Andoni fishermen agreed to work with Kalabari fishing partners in reporting boats illegally fishing with unauthorised fishing gears in the smaller river and water ways of Akuku Toru Area.
The resolution banned all kinds of illegal fishing methods including the use of dynamite, gamalin chemical, and almighty ghana method of fishing identified to be inimical in smaller rivers and creeks.
The parties, The Tide further learnt, also agreed to stop the use of fishing gears known as cover bush, “Nkotoo”, and “Oyinma” in the smaller river of the local government.
According to the agreement, a taskforce would be set up under the supervision of the marine police to monitor and implement the terms of agreement and the activities of illegal fishing in the area.
The Taskforce would also notify the Councils and the police of any break down of law and order by fishermen and follow-up measures in accordance with the Council guidelines and fisheries in the area.
Under the new agreement, the Chairman of Akuku Toru, Mr. Rowland Sekibo, directed all users of “Oyinma” and “Nkotoo” fishing gears to shift to the deep sea, saying that such fishing techniques are not meant for smaller rivers and creeks.
“We are not sending Andoni fishermen out of our area, they are our brothers. We are the same Ijaw ethnic group, but we are placing the measures for safety reasons and to maintain the existing peace among the fishermen in the area.
“Andoni people and any other fishermen can join in using other ways of normal fishing like throwing net, hook fishing and other smaller net fishings in the creeks and rivers. We don’t have problem in that area”, Sekibo said.
He advised the Kalabari fishermen to live in harmony with other neighbours, saying that the council would not tolerate any form of crisis that will break down the existing peace in the area.
Also speaking , Andoni Local Government Chairman, Chief Erastus Awortu, thanked the Council chairman and the Traditional Rulers of Akuku Toru LGA for the common understanding to resolve what he said would have led to crisis between the Andoni fishermen and their landlord LGA.
Awortu said the resolution reached so far will go a long way to strengthen the unity and peace among the fishermen and women in the area.
He also thanked the Akuku Toru Chairman for his promise to join him in assisting those fishermen so far affected by the new agreement.
The two Local Government Council chairmen further promised to render financial support to the fishermen, especially those using the legal means of fishing, but asked to change the pattern because of safety reasons.
Recall that over the years, there had been concern over some methods of fishing activities adopted by mostly Andoni fishermen who are tenants in Akuku Toru territory of the State.
According to a report by the Kalabari Fishermen Association and Maritime Union, the use of some fishing traps and nets had denied them means of survival between 2020 till date (a period when the illegal fishing spiked in the Akuku Toru sea).
The people also claimed in thier reports that the Andoni fishing methods not only destroy all kind of aquatic lives, but is also unsafe for maritime workers and their sea travellers in the area.
According to them, the methods could lead to the degradation of marine life and also increase the risk of marine travellers in the area.
The Tide reports that the ban on all fishing boats using oceanic fishing activities from operating in the creeks, as resolution adopted, prohibits all fishermen, including indigenous fishermen and women of Akuku Toru Local Government Area.

By: Enoch Epelle