Special Adviser to the Governor of Lagos State on Rural Development, Mr Babatunde Hunpe, has underscored the importance of fish farming, saying it could help create employment to significant number of the teeming unemployed youths in the country.

Hunpe spoke as special guest at the second edition of Fishparty, a public enlightenment programme, organised by Fisheries and Environment Services in Lagos recently.

The programme, titled, “celebrating fish with a vital role in sustaining huge area of diverse population and looking at the effects of its disappearance”, highlights the economic prospects of fish business as a sure way of creating wealth, among other benefits

Hunpe, who was represented by the Director (Rural Agriculture Development) Lagos State Ministry of Rural Development, Mr Habeeb Giwa, said holding more public enlightenment programmes like the Fishparty could help attract investors to the sector.

This, he said could in turn reflect positive impacts on the economy. According to him, the platform creates opportunities for players and financiers in fish business to meet.

According to The Tide source, the special adviser recalled that the Lagos State Chapter of Fishery Society of Nigeria had recently organised a trip to Gambia to examine areas of partnership.

Hunpe however enumerated causes of fish disappearance to include overfishing, pollution, habitat alteration, loss of habitat and invasive alien species.

The development, he noted could be manifested in reduced source of income, food security, employment opportunity and gross domestic product.

The Chief Executive Officer, Fisheries and Environment Services, organisers of the programme, Mr Idowu Hunyinbo, also emphasised the importance of fish in “meat ravaged societies like Nigeria.”