The Warri Fishermen and Fish Traders Cooperative Society has released its annual economic review showing that average household income among its 1,200 registered members has fallen by 70% over the past five years β a collapse that the cooperative directly attributes to oil pollution, declining fish stocks, rising fuel costs for boat engines, and multiple government levies.
Cooperative chairman Chief Godwin Eferaka presented the findings at a stakeholder meeting in Warri attended by representatives of the Delta State Ministry of Agriculture and the Nigerian Ports Authority.
"In 2021, our average member earned ?85,000 per month from fishing. Today that figure is ?25,000 β and prices of everything have tripled. Our people are going hungry in waters that once fed thousands," Chief Eferaka said.
The report identifies four primary drivers of the income collapse: first, the dramatic reduction in fish populations due to hydrocarbon contamination of spawning grounds; second, increased competition from commercial trawlers operating illegally in coastal zones meant to be reserved for artisanal fishers; third, the rising cost of boat fuel following the removal of the petrol subsidy in 2023; and fourth, the proliferation of multiple levies imposed by both local government and state water transport authorities.
The cooperative is requesting a five-year moratorium on fisheries levies, enforcement of the exclusive artisanal fishing zones against commercial trawlers, and access to a ?500 million low-interest loan facility to help members invest in more fuel-efficient engines and cold storage facilities.
The Delta State Government has not formally responded to the cooperative's demands, but has promised to include fisheries development in its 2027 budget proposal β a commitment that fishing communities say they have heard before without results.