Millions of fish consumers are heaving a sigh of relief as fresh import quotas for fish issued by the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) recently help to cool down prices across the country.

The price of the Herring specie of fish for instance, has  come down from N7,600 to N4,000 per carton. The price of Horse Mackerel has likewise come down to N5,800 from more than N9,500 per carton. The Titus specie is being sold in the market for N6,800, down from a level of N10,200 per carton.

According to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO) figures, Nigeria currently has a shortage of 2.6 million tons of fish. While the global average of fish consumption is 18.7 kilogrammes per person, Nigeria’s per capita consumption of fish is only 11.2 kilogrammes.

Nigerian fish supply consists of 600,000 metric tons of local production and the balance is mainly covered by imports of frozen fish. Frozen fish is the general description for fish of different species, caught in high seas by trawlers in Asia, Europe and Russia, the major markets (and frozen for preservation) from where Nigeria imports.

Nigeria’s domestic production consists predominantly of farmed fish, mainly catfish. The varieties of frozen fish that Nigeria imports are mostly not available in Nigerian coastal waters, or are not in very commercial quantities. Besides,the  Nigerian trawling industry has been seriously affected by oil spillage, piracy and non-sustainable fishing practices.

“The impact of any major reduction in imports would only mean that catfish will be the only variety of fish available in Nigeria”, a fishery expert, Solomon Anichebe said. Anichebe has expressed the opinion that Nigerians have gotten used to varieties of imported frozen fish over the past decades, including Herring or Shawa, and Sardine, which are popular in the North, Horse Mackerel (Kote), Sardinella (Agbodu), and Mackerel which are staples in the East and Blue Whiting (Panla) which are favourites in the Western parts of Nigeria. Only the catfish has become accustomed to breeding in Nigeria, he says.

Following representation and prayers from numerous consumer bodies and associations, pointing to the apparent shortfall in supply and the prohibitive prices, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture recently approved issuance of more quotas to deserving importers.

According to informed sources, the quotas were issued based on proven track record of high quality, fair prices, efficient storage, back up power, cold chain management and firm commitments for fish farming in Nigeria.

The Ministry of Agriculture aims to increase local fish production in Nigeria, using the enormous water resources available in the country.

Further to the above quotas the markets responded very positively for the consumers resulting in drastic price cuts in mass consumption fish species.

Kayode, who grills and sells fish in Lagos, expressed relief that the major varieties of fish are now much cheaper, enabling  him to expand his business.

Another vendor, Sule Audu, said he finds it much easier to source fish to roast, due to availability and more affordable prices. Audu said the scarcity had affected his daily earnings, which has now improved remarkably.

From Kano, Abdullahi Abubakar a fish dealer for the last 15 years said fish farming is very challenging and it may take some years for Nigeria to become self sufficient. He praised the FG’s decision to issue more import quotas to meet the common man’s daily demands.

Abubakar said now Shawa (Herring) is affordable to all customers.

http://businessdayonline.com/2014/12/agriculture-ministry-crashes-fish-prices-to-affordable-levels/