Nigeria and Norway Collaborate on Satellite Fishing Surveillance

The Nigerian federal government is collaborating with Norway to enhance satellite surveillance aimed at combating illegal fishing in Nigerian waters. On Monday, Minister of Marine and Blue Economy, Dr Adegboyega Oyetola, met with Norway’s Ambassador to Nigeria, Svein Baera, in Abuja to discuss Nigeria's involvement in the Blue Justice initiative.

This initiative offers free satellite-based Automatic Identification System (AIS) vessel-tracking data to participating countries, enabling them to strengthen maritime surveillance against Illegal, Unreported and Unregulated (IUU) fishing. Baera highlighted that the program would provide Nigeria with real-time and historical vessel-tracking information to identify suspicious activities.

Oyetola expressed gratitude for Norway's support and confirmed Nigeria's participation in the initiative, emphasizing the detrimental impact of illegal fishing on local communities and the economy. He stated that the government is committed to protecting marine resources and increasing local fish production to benefit the national economy.