BY JIMOH BABATUNDE with Agency Report

Dr Awoteinm George, the chairman of Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), Rivers chapter, has decried the low level of fish production in the country.

While speaking with journalists in Port Harcourt, he said that only 40 per cent of the fish consumed the country was produced locally.

George, a lecturer in the Department of fisheries, Rivers state University of Science and Technology (RSUST), explained that the importation was impacting negatively on the nation’s economy.

The Chairman explained that many Nigerians would have been employed if 100 per cent of the fish consumed in the country were produced locally. “It should have not only provided employment for the people, but also generate income,” George said.

He said that Rivers and Bayelsa states were expected to be the “fish basket” of Nigeria, by the virtue of their geographical locations but that reverse was the case.

George said that Rivers’ fisheries projects that were expected to change the situation had collapsed. He said that the state government had in 2007 imported five trawlers for commercial fishing but left they have gone moribund. “Instead of exporting fish to other countries of the world, we are importing,” the lecturer said.

He advised private sector, state and federal governments to support fish production. George explained that many Nigerians were interested in fish farming, but lacked the resources.

According to him, fish feeds alone gulp 80 per cent of the production, adding that one bag of feed cost N5,000.
George said that farmers should be assisted with inputs, rather than cash.

He explained that fish was cheaper and healthy for the consumers than beef, explaining that one kilogram of beef cost N1,000 while the same weight of fish cost N600.

George advised Nigerians above 40 years old to eat more fish than meat, saying “fish has less cholesterol, and complete in amino acid among other health benefits”