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Our attention has been drawn to a social media post about a man in a village in Warri, Delta State who caught and killed a Blue Marlin with an estimated value of $2million while he was on a fishing expedition on Monday, 8th March, 2021.
The story has it that the fisherfolk killed and shared the flesh with his family and community members.
This is an unacceptable behavior towards our biodiversity especially for creatures that are endangered and most suitable for research and environmental education purposes.
This incident highlights the need for more awareness campaigns and education to coastal dwellers to enlighten them on the importance of these species and their responsibility in protecting marine creatures.
The Blue Marlin is currently classified as Vulnerable on the IUCN Conservation status (Red List), meaning that the population is decreasing at an alarming rate.
We are saddened by the destructive practices along the coastline including pollution and, in this case, unsustainable harvest of marine creatures. These and other reasons made NCF to organize a Marine Stakeholders’ Workshop in collaboration with the Rivers State University (RSU) in 2019 to create more awareness and find lasting solution to these challenges.
NCF is using this opportunity to appeal to the public to see biodiversity protection as everyone’s responsibility as biodiversity loss will lead to an uninhabitable earth for man.
Marine biodiversity along the coast needs to be protected by communities along the coast to avoid the killing of these species which leads to their decline and eventual extinction.
We therefore call on the Governments of all coastal States and other well-meaning Nigerians especially from coastal areas, to rise to the challenge of promoting environmental education in Nigeria.
Muhtari Aminu-Kano
Director General
15th March, 2021