The Federal Government of Nigeria is partnering with Norway to deploy satellite surveillance to combat illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing in Nigerian waters.

The Minister of Marine and Blue Economy Dr Adegboyega Oyetola gave the assurance on Monday in Abuja when he received Norway’s Ambassador to Nigeria Svein Baera who visited to discuss Nigeria’s participation in the Blue Justice initiative.

The ambassador was accompanied by the Second Secretary Political and Project Development Michelle Hovi.

Baera said the visit was to introduce the Blue Justice Ocean Surveillance Programme which provides participating countries with free satellite based Automatic Identification System vessel tracking data.

He explained that the programme will provide Nigeria with real time and historical vessel tracking information to detect suspicious movements, identify so called dark vessels that evade tracking and investigate activities linked to illegal fishing and other maritime crimes.

He invited Nigeria to join the Blue Community, a network of countries participating in the initiative, noting that the arrangement will strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to monitor its waters and enforce fisheries regulations.

Responding, Oyetola commended the Norwegian government for the initiative and its long standing cooperation with Nigeria, assuring that the country will participate in the programme. He expressed concern over the activities of foreign operators who illegally harvest fish from Nigerian waters only for the products to be brought back into the country and sold at exorbitant prices.

The minister said the Federal Government is determined to end the practice. He noted that illegal fishing undermines the livelihoods of local fishers, deprives the country of legitimate economic benefits and threatens the sustainable management of its aquatic resources.

Oyetola added that satellite surveillance and improved intelligence sharing will enhance the government’s ability to protect fish stocks, safeguard the livelihoods of fishing communities and ensure that marine resources contribute meaningfully to national development.