Dr. Bashir Jamoh, the Director-General of the Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA). has called for synergy between the Agency and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture (FDFA) to enhance the smooth operations and safety of fishing vessels and their operators in Nigeria.
According to The Guardian, Jamoh made the call in Lagos at a meeting with officials of FDFA to discuss issues relating to the safety of fishing vessels, Illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing and broader crimes that take place during fishing operations and related matters.
Jamoh, who was represented by the Head, Special Duties (External Relations and Technical Cooperation), Isichei Osamgbi, said there should be adequate information sharing between FDFA, which has the mandate to license fishing vessels, and NIMASA, which is responsible for registration and survey of the vessels, to ensure that unseaworthy vessels are not licensed to operate on Nigerian waters.
On maritime security, Jamoh said with the acquisition and training of operators of the deep blue assets, the days of criminal elements in Nigeria’s maritime domain were numbered, as the assets had been fully deployed.
In his remarks, Head of Monitoring, Control and Surveillance at the FDFA Lagos Office, Paul Opuama, said the provided a very useful opportunity to not only clear some grey operational areas but also foster greater collaboration to improve the safety of fishing vessels.
He said the strategic meeting, which was held under the auspices of NIMASA’s External Relations and Technical Cooperation programme, was aimed at seeking areas of collaboration between the two agencies for the benefit of the fishing industry.
The Guardian
