- Video Caption: NIOMR SECURES WTO FISHERIES FUND GRANT, LEADS NIGERIA'S IMPLEMENTATION AGENDA
- Video Duration: 08:04
The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), having secured the World Trade Organization Fisheries Fund Grant for Nigeria, has now moved into the implementation phase with a one-day stakeholders’ engagement held on its rollout. The project, titled “National Assessment and Capacity Building for the Implementation of the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies in Nigeria,” is currently in its first phase, focusing on identifying technical areas where Nigeria requires support.
The World Trade Organization estimates that harmful fisheries subsidies cost approximately 22 billion United States dollars annually worldwide, underscoring the urgency for coordinated global action.
The Project is expected to help member states to tackle Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated fishing, assess marine resources, and establish effective reporting systems to eliminate harmful subsidies.
Speaking on the sidelines of the event, the Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of NIOMR, Professor Abiodun Sule, World Trade Organization Consultant Dr. Ken Okaoha, and representatives from the Federal Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy, as well as the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, emphasized the importance of the project.
Stakeholders present at the engagement included the International Ocean Institute (IOI), the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON), the African Women Fish Processors and Traders Network (AWFISHNET), state government representatives, and members of the academia, among others.
Maritime TV Africa reports that the World Trade Organization Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies came into force in September 2025, after securing acceptance from over two-thirds of its member states.
