Members of the Nigerian Trawlers Owners Association (NITOA) have disclosed that more than 80 per cent of their vessels are currently grounded due to the sharp rise in diesel prices, a situation that is already reducing fish supply and pushing up prices across markets.
A visit to the Ijora Fish Market showed a noticeable drop in the quantity of fish supplied by local trawlers, contributing to scarcity and rising costs of the commodity.
National Executive Secretary of the Fisheries Cooperatives Federation of Nigeria, retired Navy Captain Oladele Robinson, said both artisanal and industrial fishing operators were being severely affected by the rising costs of fuel. He explained that while small-scale operators depend on petrol to power boats, industrial trawlers rely entirely on diesel.
According to him, operators increasingly return from fishing trips without enough catch to offset fuel expenses, making operations unsustainable and forcing many vessels to remain docked.
Industry sources close to the office of NITOA President, Mrs. Ben Okonkwo, said the cost of diesel—Automated Gas Oil (AGO)—has risen by more than 100 per cent, making long fishing expeditions financially unviable. They noted that fuelling a vessel for a typical 50-day trip now results in heavy losses.
“We used to get diesel at about ₦900 per litre. Today, it is between ₦1,800 and ₦2,000 per litre,” the source said, adding that many operators had withdrawn vessels from operations to avoid further losses.
The association warned that the situation could worsen food security concerns, as fish remains one of the most affordable protein sources for many Nigerians. It also cautioned that about 10,000 direct and indirect jobs across the fishing value chain could be at risk without urgent intervention.
Operators attributed part of the diesel price surge to global supply disruptions linked to tensions involving Iran, which they said had affected fuel logistics and pricing.
They called on the Federal Government to consider targeted support measures for the sector, stressing that fishing trawlers rely entirely on diesel and cannot operate without it. According to them, without intervention, reduced fishing activity could further deepen shortages and sustain upward pressure on fish prices nationwide.
