Nigeria Arrests Chinese Nationals In Illegal Fishing Crackdown

Nigeria arrested 33 people in late August as part of Exercise Coastal Grip II and Operation Abo Eja, including three Chinese nationals, two Ghanaians and 28 Nigerians, the Navy and the Federal Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture said. The three-day initiative used naval ships, helicopters, Special Boat Service personnel and maritime surveillance, coordinated through the Western Naval Command Mission Control Centre, according to Nigerian media. Fisheries officials provided technical guidance. Nigerian officials said the operation aims to deter illegal, unregulated and unreported (IUU) fishing, which they linked to heavy stock depletion and foreign losses. Navy Rear Adm. Abubakar Mustapha said Nigeria now imports more than 70% of its fish needs.