The Nigerian Navy, in collaboration with the Federal Department of Fisheries, on July 16, 2025, organized a capacity-building training for its personnel on fisheries regulation enforcement. The event took place at the NNS Beecroft Officers’ Mess in Apapa, Lagos.
The initiative aimed to enhance the Navy’s capacity in combating illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing within Nigeria’s maritime domain. Command Operations Officer Commodore A. Mohammed, who represented the Flag Officer Commanding Western Naval Command (FOC WNC), Rear Admiral M.G. Oamen, emphasized the Navy’s strategic role in safeguarding Nigeria’s maritime resources.
Commodore Mohammed highlighted that IUU fishing activities threaten the country’s marine economy, biodiversity, and national security, adding that such training is vital for improving regulatory compliance and operational effectiveness at sea.
Resource persons from the Federal Department of Fisheries, Mr. Adedayo Akinbobola and Mr. Taiwo Are, delivered detailed presentations on fisheries laws and enforcement mechanisms. They addressed licensing requirements, classification of fishing zones, types of fishing vessels, and non-trawling zones (0–5 nautical miles), as well as distant water fishing boundaries.
Participants were educated on mesh size regulations (44 mm for shrimping and 76 mm for general fishing), documentation checks, arrest and prosecution procedures, and best practices for preserving evidence. The facilitators also stressed the need for synergy between naval operatives and fisheries officers to achieve sustainable fisheries management.
The training wrapped up with an interactive session where personnel shared field experiences and asked questions, reinforcing the Navy’s dedication to maritime law enforcement and national development.