Perception and Reality of Justice in the Small-Scale Fisheries of Nigeria

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries in Nigeria, sub Saharan Africa operate in the context of a limited and broken infrastructure such as good roads, pipe borne water, public hospital and epileptic power supply. The fishers consist of Indigenous peoples and migrants from neighboring West Africa countries operating inland, creeks and lagoon, and marine waters usually not beyond the 5 nautical miles. Direct employment is highly gendered, with male children being introduced to fishing activities early in their life and women working mainly in secondary employment. Stakeholder relationships are characterized by limited interactive governance. The national government has adopted the SSF Guidelines, but implementation remains surreptitious without a national strategic plan to guide implementation and invariably promote sustainable small-scale fisheries in the country. Perceptions of fishers and related institutions of justice were examined from oil and gas-related pollution, piracy, Illegal Unregulated and Unreported activities, and competition for space. Suffering of the fisher may be complicated further in the envisaged transition to the Blue Growth and Blue Economy agendas. Government and public service institutions at federal or state levels as organizations to help promote fisheries management and governance and deal with injustice to the small-scale fishers were examined. The abilities of these institutions to prevent injustice and defend fishers’ interests in a full-blown Blue Growth economy are discussed. This chapter offers suggestions for consolidating the resilience of small-scale fisheries against injustice and necessary institutional reforms that must take place prior to the onset of the Blue Growth agenda, and the implementation of the SSF Guidelines.