Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research Annual Report, 1999.

The Institute succeeded in realising part of its long-term plan of extending its research activities to cover the entire coastline of Nigeria, with the opening of Sapele Rural Station in Delta State. The station had since commenced operation prioritising farmers' field test and incubation of NIOMR's validated research results and technologies An attempt was made to revitalise the work force through staff upgrading, promotions, confirmation of appointments and retirement from the service. I n all 103 officers in various cadres were affected. New postings were also effected during the year for more effectiveness.All-year-round statistical sampling of landings in the industrial fishing sector continued throughout 1999. Croakers, as usual, dominated the fish trawls being, the most abundant commercial species in inshore waters, accounting for 84.14 % of landings. Size statistics during the year showed definite pressure on inshore fisheries resources. This calls for long term management for sustainability.Preliminary analyses of the trawl survey of the Gulf of Guinea conducted during the year indicated that while bigeye (Brachydeuterus auritus) occurred in varying quantities in the entire gulf region, certain other species were location specific.In response to the US ban on Nigeria's shrimp exports to protect turtles which are on the endangered species list, but are caught incidental to shrimping, NIOMR researched and developed the Turtle Excluder Devices (TED) much earlier on, thereby persuading US authorities to un-proscribe Nigeria. In 1999, NIOMR hosted on behalf of the Federal Department of Fisheries, the FAO/GEF Workshop on Trawl Shrimp Fishery Big-catch Reduction Workshop for the African Region.Drawing participants from Cameroon, Tanzania, Gambia, Ghana, Seychelles, Mauritius and Senegal among others, the workshop prepared project proposals for large scale fishing under the Global Environmental Fund (GEF) to address trawl shrimp fishery by Catch.Significant progress was made in integrated aquaculture practices at the out- station Badore confirming the economic viability of fish-cum vegetables (Ugu) propagation. Projections from field practice suggest that one hectare of farmland can generate as much as N400, 000.00 gross revenue per annum from just Ugu alone.In view of the commercial importance of fish culture in Nigeria, efforts were made during the year to isolate highly productive strains of catfish Clarias garieQinus bio-technically, for development into base broodstocks. In the meantime, infrastructures and logistics were put in place for the institutionalisationof the packaged 12-week intensive aquaculture training programme conceptualised entirely at NIOMR for fish farm entrepreneurs' capacity building. Hopefully funding will improve in year 2000 so that appropriate attention can be devoted to Aquaculture, which clearly holds the key to self-sufficiency in fish production.Poor mass dissemination and extension of farm technologies was identified as a bottleneck to the rapid development of the Nigerian agriculture. NIOMR fielded a Fisheries Extension Technologies Workshop in 1999 to firm up the strategies for a viable and effective Fisheries Extension Framework in Nigeria.Although the Chemical and Physical Oceanography programme was handicapped by the non-serviceability of Research Vessel "SARKIN BAKA" previous data collections were analysed for military application. NIOMR continued to participate in International workshops and discourses on these matters. NIOMR was elected a Vice-Chairman for the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (IOC of UNESCO) with responsibility for capacity building.NIOMR was nominated member of an Inter-Ministerial Committee on the permanent Solution to the Bar-Beach Erosion Problem. In addition the Geology/Geo-physics Division of NIOMR was involved in the CSI (UNESCO) specially funded project on the runoff drainage systems of Victoria and Ikoyi Islands in Lagos.The main tool for oceanographic research work, the "SARKIN BAKA" awaited more funds in 1999 to get into the final phase of its NIOMR concretised its out reach programmes in 1999 and work on NIOMR/Shell Petroleum Development Company really took off in November 1999. Earlier in the year, SPDC started negotiations on another collaboration with NIOMR on their Forcados Integrated Plant project. NIOMR opened up communications with the Bayelsa State Government on the introduction of NIOMR's Fish Drying Equipment to the State. In 1999, NIOMR vigorously invested in computerisation and added a total of 24 desk tops to the stock and arrangement for internet conclusively were far advanced. Staff training and retraining were areas of high priority refurbishment.NIOMR concretised its out reach programmes in 1999 and work on NIOMR/Shell Petroleum Development Company really took off in November 1999. Earlier in the year, SPDC started negotiations on another collaboration with NIOMR on their Forcados Integrated Plant project. NIOMR opened up communications with the Bayelsa State Government on the introduction of NIOMR's Fish Drying Equipment to the State. In 1999, NIOMR vigorously invested in computerisation and added a total of 24 desk tops to the stock and arrangement for internet conclusively were far advanced. Staff training and retraining were areas of high priority.Towards infrastructure development, the net-Ioft built by the Japanese government was transformed by direct labour to a reception hall. Procurement of plastic chairs will complete the up grade systems.It is hoped that year 2000 funding levels will improve tremendously, commensurate with the challenges at hand. T. 0. AJAYI (Ph.D.) DIRECTOR

NIOMR