The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has
\ncommenced a scientific inquiry to identify the cause of the recent
\nshoals of dead fish washed ashore along the Niger Delta coastline states
\nof Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, and Rivers, and other places
\nwithin the region. The Agency also put up a warning to the general
\npublic, especially the fisherfolk in the affected areas, about the
\ndangers of consuming or selling the dead fish to unsuspecting members of
\nthe public.<\/p>\n
Director-General of NIMASA, Dr. Bashir Jamoh, said, “We are working with
\nrelevant scientific experts to isolate the cause of the abnormal issue
\nof dead fish along the Niger Delta coastline. We want to identify the
\ncause and establish what can be done to alleviate the adverse effect of
\nthis occurrence on the people and the marine environment in the affected
\nareas.<\/p>\n
“While we are working to decipher and mitigate this strange incident, we
\nappeal to locals in the affected communities and those who trade in
\naquatic animals to avoid consumption and sale of the dead fish, as such
\nacts may carry criminal liabilities, especially with regard to
\ndeliberate sale of the dead fish to the public.”<\/p>\n
Jamoh said the tripodal investigation would involve an examination of
\nthe dead fish as well as water and sediment analyses.<\/p>\n
NIMASA has the mandate to regulate and protect the country’s marine
\nenvironment as provided for in the Merchant Shipping Act 2007 and in
\ncompliance with the International Convention for the Prevention of
\nPollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by the Protocol of 1978 (MARPOL
\n1973\/78), and other relevant instruments aimed at protecting the
\nmaritime domain.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) has commenced a scientific inquiry to identify the cause of the recent shoals of dead fish washed ashore along the Niger Delta…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":72840,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-73047","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n