Firm deploys trawlers to boost fishing industry, reduce importation

• As operators decry depletion of vessels

In a bid to boost artisanal and industrial fishing in Lagos State, Ceylon Marine has concluded plans to launch its refrigerated mini-fishing trawlers to grow the sub-sector and reduce fish importation.

This is just as the Nigerian Trawler Owners Association (NITOA), in its recent data, decried the decrease in the number of fishing vessels operating in the nation, from 250 in 1983 to about 150 currently.

The trawler operators also lamented that, of the over 20 fishing companies that operated, only five companies are operating presently and struggling to survive

The Chief Executive Officer, Ceylon Marine, Mr. Chris Ajayi, said the refrigerated mini fishing trawlers can go to sea and return within a month. He said Nigeria currently consumes about 3.6 million tonnes of fish yearly, out of which 1.1 million tonnes are sourced locally.

Ajayi said this creates a shortfall of 2.5 million tonnes, as the country is forced to import and spends over $1 billion yearly. He said the Ceylon mini-refrigerated trawlers can do over 13 tonnes per month, adding that it is fuel efficient and also affordable.

“We believe strongly that with the deployment of this mini refrigerated trawler in Nigeria, fish import will be history, foreign exchange will be saved and a lot of jobs will also be created,” he said.