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SEA FISHERIES ACT

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LAWS OF THE FEDERATION OF NIGERIA

SEA FISHERIES ACT

 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS

  1. Licensing of motor fishing boats.
  2. Unlicensed motor fishing boat enjoying innocent passage.
  3. Application for a licence.
  4. Grounds for issue of a licence, etc.
  5. Operating with expired licence.
  6. Renewal of a licence.
  7. Appeals.
  8. Returns.
  9. Enforcement of the Act.
  10. Prohibited method of fishing.
  11. Offences.
  12. False statement.
  13. Forfeiture, etc.
  14. Regulations.
  15. Interpretation.
  16. Repeal and transitional provisions.
  17. Short title.

 

SEA FISHERIES ACT

An Act to provide for the control, regulation and protection of sea fisheries in the territorial waters of Nigeria.

[30th November, 1992]                [ Commencement.]

  1. Licensing of motor fishing boats

(1)    Subject to the provisions of this section, no person shall operate or navigate any motor fishing boat for the purpose of fishing or a reefer vessel for the purpose of discharging frozen fish within the territorial waters of Nigeria or its exclusive economic zone, unless that boat or reefer vessel has been duly registered and licensed.

(2)    Any person operating or navigating or causing to be operated or navigated a motor fishing boat or a reefer vessel in contravention of subsection (1) of this section shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and on conviction shall be liable to imprisonment for five years or to a fine of $250,000 or to both such fine and imprisonment and in addition forfeiture of the motor fishing boat and the fish or shrimp catch on board.

(3)    The provisions of this section shall not apply to any motor fishing boat or a reefer vessel entering the territorial waters of Nigeria not for fishing or the disposal of fish, but solely for re-fuelling at any port or for shelter, or solely because the motor fishing boat or reefer vessel is in distress or there is any other emergency.

 

  1. Unlicensed motor fishing boat enjoying innocent passage

Every unlicensed motor fishing boat in transit or enjoying the right of innocent passage within Nigeria’s territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone shall have its-

(a)    fishing gear stowed wholly inboard;

(b)    nets and trawl boards disconnected from towing warps or hauling ropes; and

(c)    fishing gear above deck firmly secured to the vessel’s super structure as it is customary when steaming to and from the fishing ground.

 

  1. Application for a licence

(1)    Any person being the owner of a motor fishing boat may apply to a licensing officer for a licence in respect of the motor fishing boat to—

(a)    trawl for fish or shrimp in Nigeria’s territorial waters or Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone; or

(b)    navigate for the purpose of discharging imported frozen fish in any Nigerian port; or

(c)    navigate Nigerian or foreign waters for the purpose of processing or discharging wet fish caught from such waters in any Nigerian port.

(2)    An application for a licence shall be in such form and manner as may be prescribed and shall-

(a)    contain the particulars and descriptions of the motor fishing boat in respect of which the application is made; and

(b)    a statement in detail as to-

(i)     the methods to be employed for taking fish;

(ii)    the area within which it is proposed that the motor fishing boat shall operate;

(iii)    the arrangements that are to be made for the preservation and marketing of the catch in Nigeria; and

(iv)   such particulars as may be required, from time to time, by regulations made under this Act.

 

  1. Grounds for issue of a licence, etc.

(1)    On being satisfied that-

(a)    an application for a licence has been made in the prescribed manner and contains all the information that is required under section 3 of this Act;

(b)    the prescribed fees have been paid;

(c)    the applicant is the lawful owner of the motor fishing boat in respect of which the application is made, and that he is a fit and proper person to be granted a licence; and

(d)    the operation of the motor fishing boat in the territorial waters of Nigeria or its exclusive economic zone is not likely to be prejudicial to the interests of sea fishing industry in Nigeria, the licensing officer shall issue a licence in respect of the motor fishing boat.

(2)    Subject to the provisions of this Act, a licence shall be in the prescribed form and may be issued subject to such conditions as the licensing officer may think fit to impose, and any conditions so imposed shall be endorsed on the licence.

(3)    A licence shall be a yearly licence or a quarterly licence, and-

(a)    if the licence is a yearly licence, it shall expire on 31 st December in the year in which it is issued;

(b)    if the licence is a quarterly licence, it shall expire on the 31st March, the 30th June, 30th September, or 31st December, whichever day falls next after the date of the issue of the licence.

(4)    Where the ownership of a motor fishing boat in respect of which a licence has been issued is transferred from one person to another person, the licence shall not be valid in respect of the new owner of the vessel until such time as a licensing officer has approved the transfer of the ownership of the motor fishing boat and has endorsed the licence to that effect.

(5)    A licensing officer may, without assigning any reason-

(a)    cancel a licence; or

(b)    suspend a licence for such period as he thinks fit.

 

  1. Operating with expired licence

Any person who operates a motor fishing boat with an expired licence shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000 and forfeiture of catch.

 

  1. Renewal of a licence

The provisions of this Act relating to application for a licence and the issue of a licence shall apply in relation to an application for the renewal of the licence and to such renewal.

 

  1. Appeals

(1)    Any person aggrieved by any refusal by a licensing officer to issue or renew a licence or by the cancellation or suspension of a licence or by any condition endorsed on a licence may, within fourteen days of receiving notice of the refusal, cancellation, suspension or endorsement, appeal to the Minister in respect thereof.

(2)    After considering any appeal made under subsection (1) of this section the Minister shall take such decision thereon as he deems fit and the licensing officer shall give effect thereto, accordingly.

(3)    The decision of the Minister on any appeal under this section shall be final.

 

  1. Returns

The owner of a motor fishing boat in respect of which a licence has been issued shall-

(a)    render to a licensing officer such periodical returns concerning the operation of the motor fishing boat as may be prescribed; and

(b)    permit a licensing officer or any person authorised in writing by a licensing officer to inspect the catch of the motor fishing boat either before or after the catch has been landed and shall give the licensing officer or that person all reasonable facilities for the inspection of the catch.

 

  1. Enforcement of the Act

(1)    An authorised person may, within the territorial waters of Nigeria or its exclusive economic zone for the purpose of enforcing any provision of this Act-

(a)    require the owner or the person in charge of a motor fishing boat in respect of which a licence has been issued, to exhibit his licence, fishing apparatus and catch;

(b)    require the owner or the person in charge of any motor fishing boat or any person engaged in fishing to exhibit his fishing apparatus and catch;

(c)    go on board any motor fishing boat, search and examine the motor fishing boat and any fishing apparatus that may be therein;

(d)    where there is reasonable suspicion that an offence under this Act has been committed, take the alleged offender and the motor fishing boat, fishing apparatus and catch to the most convenient port or police station.

(2)    The powers vested in an authorised person under subsection (1) of this section may be exercised by him without warrant, summons or other process.

(3)    Any motor fishing boat or apparatus taken from an alleged offender under the provisions of paragraph (d) of subsection (1) of this section, may be detained or kept pending the trial of the alleged offender, and the catch may be sold and the proceeds of the sale detained or kept pending such trial.

(4)    Any motor fishing boat, apparatus or money detained or kept under subsection (3) of this section shall, unless forfeited under the provisions of sections I (2) or 13 of this Act, be returned to the person from whom the name was taken or to the lawful owner thereof.

(5)    If a motor fishing boat, after detention under subsection (3) of this section, proceeds to sea before it is released by an authorised person or a court, the master of the motor fishing boat and also the owner and any person who sends the motor fishing boat to sea, if the owner or person is privy to the master’s offence, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act.

(6)    In this section, “an authorised person” means-

(a)    a licensing officer;

(b)    any commissioned officer in the Nigerian Army, Navy or Air Force;

(c)    a police officer not below the rank of assistant superintendent of police;

(d)    a customs officer not below the rank of assistant preventive superintendent;

(e)    a surveyor or examiner appointed under the provisions of the Merchant Shipping Act; and

(f)     any other person authorised in writing by the Minister in that behalf.

 

  1. Prohibited method of fishing

(1)    No person shall take or destroy or attempt to take or destroy any fish within the territorial waters of Nigeria or its exclusive economic zone by any of the following methods, that is-

(a)    by the use of any explosive substance; or

(b)    by the use of any noxious or poisonous matter.

(2)    Any person, who contravenes the provisions of subsection (1) of this section, shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to imprisonment for two years or a fi ne of N50,000.

 

  1. Offences

Any person who-

(a)    contravenes or fails to comply with any of the provisions of this Act; or

(b)    contravenes or fails to comply with any requirement made under this Act; or

(c)    contravenes or fails to comply with any condition endorsed on a licence; or

(d)    is in breach of any regulation made under this Act,

for which no penalty is prescribed, shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and liable on conviction to a fine of N 50,000.

 

  1. False statement

If any person, in furnishing any information for the purposes of procuring a licence, makes a false statement which he knows to be false in any material particular, that person shall be guilty of an offence under this Act and liable on conviction to a fine of N50,000.

 

  1. Forfeiture, etc.

A court before which any person is convicted of an offence under this Act may-

(a)    order the forfeiture to the Government of the Federation of any fishing boat, apparatus or catch employed in the commission of or derived from any act in respect of which that person is so convicted;

(b)    where the fishing boat employed in the commission of the offence is a motor boat in respect of which a licence had been issued, cancel the licence or suspend the licence for such time as the court may think fit.

 

  1. Regulations

(1)    The Minister may make regulations-

(a)    for furthering the interests of sea fishing industry in Nigeria; and

(b)    for giving effect to the provisions of this Act.

(2)    Without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions of this section, regulations made under this section may-

(a)    regulate, prohibit or restrict the taking of fish in any specific area within the territorial waters of Nigeria;

(b)    prohibit or restrict the use of any fishing boat, apparatus or method of taking fish that is considered harmful to the sea fishing industry in Nigeria;

(c)    prescribe limits to the size of nets or the mesh of nets that may be employed in the taking of fish within the territorial waters of Nigeria, or in any specific area therein;

(d)    prescribe the form of a licence and the amount of fee to be paid in respect of a licence;

(e)    provide for the inspection of buildings and premises used for the curing, preservation, storage or sale of fresh, cured or preserved fish;

(f)     provide for the seizure and destruction of any fresh, cured or preserved fish that is unfit for human or animal consumption;

(g)    provide for the exemption of specified persons from any provision of this Act where such exemption is considered necessary for scientific or experimental purposes in connection with the development of the sea fishing industry in Nigeria or otherwise for the furtherance of the national interest of the Federation;

(h)    regulate any other matter relating to the conservation and protection of the stocks of sea fish.

 

  1. Interpretation

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires-

“exclusive economic zone” has the meaning assigned to it in the Exclusive Economic Zones Act;

“fish” means any aquatic creature whether fish or not and includes shell-fish, crustaceans, turtles and aquatic mammals;

“fishing boat” means any ship, boat, canoe or other craft used for the taking of fish for sale or barter;

“licence” in relation to a motor fishing boat, means a licence issued under section 4 of this Act;

“licensing officer” means the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, or any person appointed by him to carry out any of the provisions of this Act;

“Minister” means the Minister charged with responsibility for fisheries;

“motor fishing boat” means any fishing boat propelled by means of steam, internal combustion or other machinery except one or more portable outboard engines;

“port” includes a place and harbour;

“prescribed” means prescribed by regulations under this Act;

“taking fish” includes any method of catching fish;

“territorial waters of Nigeria” has the same meaning as in section 1 of the Territorial Waters Act.

 

  1. Repeal and transitional provisions

(1)    The Sea Fisheries Act is hereby repealed.

(2)    The repeal of the enactment mentioned in subsection (1) of this Act shall not affect anything done under the repealed enactment prior to the commencement of this Act.

(3)    Accordingly any licence issued under the repealed Act being a licence that was in force immediately before the date of the commencement of this Act, shall from that date have effect as if it were a licence issued under this Act.

(4)    Any licence, which under subsection (2) of this section has effect as if it were a licence issued under this Act, shall from the date of commencement of this Act be read and construed with such adaptations and modifications as may be necessary for the purposes of this Act, and subject to section 6 of this Act, the licence may on or after that date be cancelled or suspended or be made subject to the new conditions, by a licensing officer.

  1. Short title

This Act may be cited as the Sea Fisheries Act.

 

SEA FISHERIES ACT

 

SUBSIDIARY LEGISLATION

List of Subsidiary Lgislation

  1. Sea Fisheries (Licensing) Regulations.
  2. Sea Fisheries (Fishing) Regulations.
  3. Sea Fisheries (Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance) Regulations.

 

SEA FISHERIES (LICENSING) REGULATIONS [S.1. 18 of 1992.]

under section 13

[17th December, 1992]                [Commencement.]

 

  1. Pre-purchase assurance

(1)    A prospective owner of a fishing vessel intended for fishing or shrimping in Nigeria’s territorial waters shall first obtain a written assurance that such a vessel would be granted a fishing or shrimping licence before arrangement for the purchase of the vessel is concluded.

(2)    A prospective owner of any type of trawler or fishing vessel shall obtain a letter of support for fishing operations in foreign waters.

  1. Submission of feasibility studies, etc.

Every application for a licence shall be in writing supported by-

(a)    a feasibility report on the proposed fishing venture;

(b)    a copy of the article and memorandum of association of the company certified by the Registrar-General of the Corporate Affairs Commission;

(c)    a copy of the certificate of registration of the company; and

(d)    a deletion certificate in case of an old vessel.

  1. Registration of vessel

(1)    Every vessel intended for fishing or shrimping purposes shall first be registered with the Federal Ministry of Transport.

(2)    Every such registered vessel shall carry the Nigeria’s national flag.

  1. Survey against and tonnage Measurement

(1)    Upon presentation by the applicant to the Federal Ministry of Transport of an authentic clean bill of sale or deletion certificate in respect of the vessel, the Federal Ministry of Transport shall cause to be carried out on the vessel, a survey and tonnage measurement.

(2)    The survey and tonnage report carried out pursuant to paragraph (1) of this sub- paragraph shall be forwarded to the Ministry.

  1. Licence

(1)    As from the commencement of these Regulations, no person shall navigate a fishing vessel for fishing purposes in Nigeria’s territorial waters unless such a vessel is duly registered and licensed for such purpose.

(2)    A person, who navigates a fishing vessel for fishing or shrimping purposes in Nigeria’s territorial waters without being so licensed, shall be guilty of an offence and liable to the penalties as prescribed under the Sea Fisheries Act.

(3)    Where a person is convicted of an offence under this paragraph, the court by which he is convicted may, in addition to the punishment prescribed under the Act, order for the forfeiture of the fish or shrimp catch on board the fishing vessel.

  1. Issuance of licence

The Minister shall be responsible for the issuance in accordance with the provisions of these Regulations, of a licence authorising a vessel to carry on fishing or shrimping purposes in Nigeria’s territorial waters.

  1. Application for licence

(1)    An application for a licence to—

(a)    trawl for fish or shrimp in Nigeria’s territorial waters or Nigeria’s exclusive economic zone; or

(b)    navigate, for the purpose of discharging imported frozen fish in any Nigerian port; or

(c)    navigate Nigerian or foreign waters for the purpose of processing or discharging wet fish caught from such waters in any Nigerian port,

shall be made in writing by the owner of the vessel to the licensing officer. (2) Every such application shall state in the case of-

(a)    an individual, the name, nationality and address of the applicant;

(b)    a partnership, the name, nationality and address of each partner;

(c)    a company or other body corporate, the name, nationality and registered ad- dress of the company in Nigeria and of its directors and be accompanied by a feasibility report on the proposed fishing venture together with a certified copy of the memorandum of association and articles of association or other document relating to the constitution of the body corporate.

(3)    In addition to the requirements specified in subparagraph (2) of this paragraph, every such application shall be accompanied by a concise state as to the tonnage of the fishing vessel, year of construction, and horsepower.

  1. Dimension of fishing vessel

No fishing vessel or shrimp trawler intended for fishing or trawling in Nigeria’s territorial waters shall exceed in the case of-

(a)    a fishing vessel, 25.3 metres in dimension and 150 gross tonnage; and

(b)    a shrimp trawler, 23.2 metres in dimension and 130 gross tonnage.

  1. Form of application for renewal

Every application for the renewal of a licence shall be as in Forms A of the First schedule to these Regulations.

  1. Issue of licence

Where an application for a fishing or shrimping licence is made to the licencing officer in accordance with paragraph 6 of these Regulations and is accompanied by the pre- scribed report, particulars, documents, information and such fees as may be required to be paid for such licence, the Minister, shall if he is satisfied that-

(a)    the fishing vessel is constructed and equipped to such a standard, and dimension as to be fit for the particular purpose intended;

(b)    the applicant is-

(i)     capable of complying with such conditions as may be imposed of attached to a licence;

(ii)    in all respects a suitable person to be granted a licence,

issue to the applicant a licence on such conditions as he may impose or as may be attached thereto.

  1. Validity of a licence

(1)    Unless a licence is cancelled under paragraph 9 of these Regulations, a licence shall remain in force for such period as may be prescribed therein and may be renewed from time to time.

(2)    The Minister, may on an application for the renewal of a licence vary the conditions attached to such licence including the fees chargeable for renewal of a licence or impose such additional conditions as he may deem appropriate.

  1. Cancellation of licence

(1)    Where the Minister has reasonable grounds for believing that-

(a)    a fishing vessel can no longer be used for the purpose for which it was 111- tended; or

(b)    the licencee has failed to comply with any condition stipulated under paragraph 10 of these Regulations, he may, after giving the licencee the opportunity of being heard or making representation by notice in writing, require him before the date specified in the notice, to remedy to the satisfaction of the Minister, the defects specified in the notice.

  1. Penalty

If any person, in furnishing any information for the purposes of these regulations, makes any false statement which he knows to be false in any material particular, that per- son shall be guilty of an offence under the Act and be liable to the penalties prescribed therein.

  1. Exemption

The size restriction specified in these Regulations shall not apply to any existing Nigeria inshore fishing fleet during its life span.

  1. Interpretation

In these Regulations unless the context otherwise requires-

“Minister” means the Minister charged with responsibility for matters relating to fisheries and “Ministry” shall be construed accordingly.

  1. Citation and revocation of S.1. 99 of 1971

(1)    These Regulations may be cited as the Sea Fisheries (Licensing) Regulations. (2) The Sea Fisheries (Licensing) Regulations 1971 are hereby revoked.

FIRST SCHEDULE [Paragraph 9.]

Forms

FORM A

Application for issue or renewal of a licence

I/We …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………. .

(Full name in block capitals)

hereby apply for a licence under section 3 of the Sea Fisheries Act in respect of the motor fishing boat the particulars and descriptions of which are hereinafter stated.

  1. (Renewals only) Particulars of the applicant’s current licence are as follows-

No ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

Date of issue ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..

  1. NAMES OF CREW MEMBERS, NATIONALITIES AND STATUS

(1)    NO OF CREW: NIGERIAN NON-NIGERIAN

Skipper ………………………………………….. ……………… ………………………………………………… .

Engineer ………………………………………… ……………… ………………………………………………… .

Deckhand ………………………………………. ……………… ………………………………………………… .

(2)    NAMES OFCREW MEMBERS, NATIONALITIES AND STATUS

(i) …………………………………………………………(vii) …………………………………………………….

(ii) ………………………………………………………. (viii) …………………………………………………… .

(iii) …………………………………………………………. (ix) ………………………………………………….. .

(iv) ………………………………………………………….. (x) …………………………………………………… .

(v) …………………………………………………………..(xi) …………………………………………………… .

(vi) …………………………………………………………(xii) …………………………………………………… .

  1. MAJOR CHARACTERISTICS OF VESSEL

LENGTH OVERALL …………………………………………(m) …………………………………………. (ft.)

LENGTH WATERING ………………………………………(m) …………………………………………..(tt.)

BEAMS ………………………………………………………………(m) ………………………………………….. (ft.)

DRAFT ……………………………………………………………….(m) …………………………………………. (ft.)

GROSS TONNAGE …………………………………………..(m) …………………………………………. tons

NET TONNAGE ………………………………………………..(m) ………………………………………….. tons

FISH HOLD CAPACITy …………………………………..(m) ………………………………………….. tons

FUEL TANK CAPACITy ………………………………….(m) ………………………………………….. tons

FUEL CONSUMPTIONIVOY AGE …………………(m) ………………………………………….. tons

  1. ENGINE-

 

TYPE ……………………………………………………………. ………………………………………………………….. .

HORSE POWER ………………………………………….. ………………………………………………………….. .

  1. HAVIGATIONALAIDS: …………………………….. MODEL ……………………………………………. .

RADIO/TELEPHONE …………………………………. ………………………………………………………….. .

RADAR ………………………………………………………… ………………………………………………………….. .

ECHO SOUNDER ……………………………………….. ………………………………………………………….. .

  1. REFRIGERATION CAPACITY: CUBIC METRES/CUBIC FEET …………………………… .
  2. TYPES OF FISHING GEAR:

(i) ………………………………………………………………… (iii) ………………………………………………….. .

(ii) ………………………………………………………………… (iv) ………………………………………………….. .

  1. This licence is issued subject to the following conditions, that is-

………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….

 

SEA FISHERIES (FISHING) REGULATIONS

[S.1. 19 of l992.]

under section 14

[17th December, 1992]                [Commencement.]

  1. Restriction on fishing in certain areas

No motor fishing boat (except canoes) shall fish within the first five nautical miles of the waters of the Nigeria continental shelf.

  1. Trawling in inshore waters

Travellers shall not use a cord-end with stretch mesh size of less than 76 mm (3 inches) when trawling for fish in the inshore waters or less than 44 mm (I % inches) when trawling for shrimps in areas approved for shrimp trawling.

  1. Prohibition against use of fish trawler

A motor fishing boat licensed to fish or trawl shall not be operated for catching shrimp.

  1. Dumping of edible and marketable sea product

Fishing vessel licensed to fish in Nigeria’s territorial waters, or its exclusive economic zone, shall not dump edible and marketable sea product at sea.

  1. Landing of certain shrimps

 

Fish landed by shrimp trawler shall not be less than 75 per cent by weight of the total landings including the head on weight of shrimps landed.

  1. Landing of catch at Nigerian port

All fish caught by a motor fishing boat within Nigeria’s territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone shall be landed at a Nigerian port and no part of it may be exported or shipped away from Nigeria at sea.

  1. Exportation of catch

Any part of the catch intended for export shall be exported in the usual manner and subject to any foreign exchange regulations for the exportation of such commodities from Nigeria.

  1. Display of national flag

Every licensed motor fishing boat shall at all times within Nigeria’s territorial waters or its exclusive economic zone hoist the national flag of 1.2 m x 2.4 m in dimension.

  1. Inscription of name and registration numbers

Every motor fishing boat shall have its name and registration number boldly inscribed on both sides of its bow and stern.

  1. Prohibition on trawling or pair trawling, etc.

No motor fishing boat-

(a)    shall trawl or pair trawl within the first five nautical miles of the waters of the Nigeria continental shelf; or

(b)    of less than 20 gross tonnage shall trawl for shrimps within Nigerian inshore waters;

(c)    licensed for shrimping shall operate in waters shallower than 18 metres.

  1. Size of fish of certain species

It shall be an offence to catch, land, retain, sell, expose or offer for sale or be in possession for the purpose of sale of seafish of any description being fish of smaller size than such size as may be prescribed in relation to sea fish of that description.

  1. Minimum size

The minimum size in relation to seafish for a lobster shall be 7 cm in length, for a crab 6 cm in length, measured from the tip of the beak to the end of the tlap of the tail when spread as far as possible flat.

  1. Mesh opening not to be obstructed

(1)    No opening on each mesh in any part of a trawl net shall be obstructed or diminished.

(2)    Where a topside chafer is used to reduce wear and tear it shall-

(a)    be made of twine of the same material and size as that of the cod-end of any single knotless, twine material;

(b)    have its mesh three times that of the cod-end;

(c)    be fastened to the forward lateral and rear edges of the cod-end or along the four edges mesh of the chafer which coincides with 3 meshes of the cod-end.

(3)    A canvas or netting may be attached to the underside of the cod-end of the trawl net along the front edge and sides.

  1. Regulation of the size of fish for sale

(1)    The Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research may publish be- fore 31st January of every year, the minimum total length of fish catchable during the year, for each of the commercial species taking into consideration-

(a)    the 5 per cent retention length of the legal cod-end mesh;

(b)    the fish demand and supply situation; and

(c)    health offish resources.

(2)    It shall be an offence to catch, or retain for ultimate sale, fish less than the mini- mum total length published in respect of each specie.

(3)    The minimum size limits of fish imposed by regulation 12 of these Regulations shall not apply to catches made on behalf of the Federal Government by approved re- search cruises.

  1. Trawling at night

(1)    When trawling at night, a vessel shall, when in doubt, switch on a search light mounted on the top of the fore castle in order to pick out or avoid the set net of artisanal fisherman.

(2)    The master of a licensed fishing vessel, which has damaged the gear set of an- other vessel in water or involved in a gear dispute, shall notify the Federal Department of Fisheries which shall arbitrate in the matter.

(3)    The decision of the Federal Department of Fisheries on the matter in dispute shall be binding on all parties to the dispute except when a suit is filed in a court by either party within 7 days of the decision.

  1. Enforcement

For the purposes of enforcing the provisions of these Regulations, a person duly  authorised by the Minister shall have power to-

(a)    signal the master of any vessel to slow down or bring for boarding; or

(b)    board any vessel and inspect its licence to fish; or

(c)    search any part of the vessel and its hold for evidence of infringement of any of the provisions of these Regulations; or

(d)    take photographs or seize on board such vessel anything which would aid him in proof of the commission of an offence under these Regulations; or

(e)    arrest the vessel, its master or chief engineer and order the vessel to proceed to the nearest port where the law enforcement agencies shall report to the Federal Department of Fisheries to effect prosecution.

  1. Signal

(1)    A signal required to be given under these Regulations shall be given by flag, lamp, loud-speaker,     horn or radio.

(2)    Upon receipt of a signal, the master of the vessel shall cause to be put in appropriate place, a ladder, manrope or safety line strong enough to facilitate boarding by an enforcement officer or authorised observer.

  1. Possession of undersized lobster or crab

No person shall keep on board either dead or alive or offer for sale any lobster or crab less than 7 cm or 6 cm respectively.

  1. Release of berried crabs, etc.

Any berried crab or lobster caught by whatever means shall be returned to the waters.

  1. Navigation of fishing vessel

No master of a licensed fishing vessel shall navigate such vessel within one half of a nautical mile of set gear approximately so marked as to be visible from a half mile away.

  1. Offence

Any person who contravenes the provisions of these Regulations shall be guilty of an offence and liable on conviction to the penalties prescribed under the Act.

  1. Interpretation

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

“Act” means the Sea Fisheries Act 1992;

“mesh size” means the mean of 25 consecutive top side meshes running parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cod-end measured when wet immediately after use.

  1. Revocation

The Sea Fisheries (Fishing) Regulations are hereby revoked.

  1. Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Sea Fisheries (Fishing) Regulations.

 

SEA FISHERIES (FISH INSPECTION AND QUALITY ASSURANCE) REGULATIONS

[S.1. 22 of 1995.)

under section 14

[l3th November, 1995]                         [Commencement.)

  1. Fishing vessel certification

(1)    No person shall use a vessel for fishing or for transportation of fish unless the vessel displays a certificate that has been issued by Fish Inspection as such certifying that the vessel meets the requirements of Schedule I of these regulations.

(2)    The certificate on a vessel may be withdrawn by a fish inspector where the vessel is not maintained or operated in compliance with the requirements of Schedule I to these Regulations.

  1. Fish unloading handling and holding

(1)    No person shall discharge or hold fish unless the unloading, handling or holding meets the requirements of Schedule 11 to these Regulations.

(2)    No person shall import or export any fish unless the unloading, handling and holding have been conducted in accordance with Schedule 11 to these Regulations.

(3)    (a)    No person shall unload or discharge fish from a fishing vessel or fish trans- port vessel in the absence of a fish inspector;

(b)    It is the responsibility of the owner of the fish to ensure that a fish inspector is present when fish is discharged or unloaded.

  1. Fish establishment and cold room registration

(1)    No person or a corporate body shall operate a fish establishment or coldroom by handling, processing, storing or sale of fish or fishery products without being validly registered with the Fish Inspection Branch, Federal Department of Fisheries after meeting the requirements of Schedules 1II and IV of these Regulations.

(2)    (a)    The registration certificate issued to a fish establishment or coldroom may be withdrawn and the premises sealed where the fish establishment or cold room is not maintained or operated in compliance with the requirements of Schedule III and IV to these Regulations.

(b)    Where this happens, the coldroom or establishment ceases to have any valid registration certificate and so cannot operate.

  1. Handling and processing of fish products

No person or corporate body shall place for sale any fish or fishery products unless the product has been landed in very hygienic manner and in full compliance with the requirements of Schedule IV to those Regulations.

  1. Prohibition of certain fish and fishery product

No person or corporate body shall import, export, or attempt to import, export, process, move or place for sale in Nigeria the following-

(a)    any fish that is tainted, decomposed or unwholesome or otherwise fails to meet the requirements of Schedule IV to these Regulations;

(b)    poisonous fish of the following families: Tetradontidae, Molidae, Diodontidae and Canthigasteridae;

(c)    fish containing biotaxines;

(d)    radioactive fish or fishery products.

  1. Preservation storage and display for sale

(1)    No person shall preserve, store or display fish for sale unless in accordance with Schedule II and IV to these Regulations.

(2)    Fresh fish shall be preserved, stored and displayed in ice in very hygienic manner.

(3)    Where fish is displayed for sale it shall be covered and exclude insects and pests.

(4)    Display tables shall be made of smooth, non-absorbent and easy to clean surfaces.

(5)    Fish shall not be thrown on floors, stepped on or handled in a manner calculated to damage or contaminate it.

 

  1. Fish storage cold rooms

(1)    No coldroom used for storage of frozen fish or fishery products shall operate at a temperature higher than 30 OC and must comply with requirements in Schedule VII to these Regulations.

(2)    No coldroom used for storage of frozen fish or fishery products shall fail to keep and produce on demand by fish inspectors, records of product stored and temperature charts for the duration of storage.

  1. Fish transportation

(1)    No person or corporate body shall transport fish unless in accordance with the requirements in Schedule VII to these Regulations.

(2)    Fish shall not be transported in an open vehicle.

  1. Fish packaging and identification marks

(1)    No person or corporate body shall package fish or fishery products unless the requirement in Schedule VI to these Regulations are fully compiled with.

(2)    No person or corporate body shall package fish or fishery products either for ex- port or sale in Nigeria without stating unambiguously, on the label of each package, the name and address of the owner of the product in Nigeria.

(3)    Where size classification is used for labelling the type of product, each size classification should be approved by the Federal Department of Fisheries.

  1. Import and export of fish or fishery products

(1)    No person or corporate body shall import or export fish or fishery products with- out satisfying all the requirements contained in these Regulations.

(2)    No person or corporate body shall load a vessel for export or unload vessel of im- ported fish or fishery products unless the consignment has been duly inspected by fish inspectors and records taken.

(3)    No person or corporate body shall discharge, unload or place for sale an imported fish or fishery product unless the following documents have been screened by the fish inspectors for the purposes of inspecting the assignment-

(i)     valid licence from the Federal Department of Fisheries; (ii) copy of bill of lading;

(iii)    copy of Health Certificate issued by competent authority of the country of origin;

(iv)   certificate of being radioactive free by a competent authority in Nigeria; (v) evidence of storage facilities and distribution channels for the consignment within Nigeria;

(vi)   total quality and value of the import.

(4)    No person or corporate body shall unload a vessel for export of fishery products unless the consignment had been inspected by the fish exporters, records taken and the following information supplied to the fish inspectors branch of the Federal Department of Fisheries-

(i)     name and address of buyer to who shipment is to be made; (ii) description of product to be shipped;

(iii)    quantity of product to be shipped;

(iv)   name of vessel carrying the shipment and date of departure;

(v)    port of departure in Nigeria and port of unloading outside Nigeria; (vi) total value of the exported product.

(5)    No person or corporate body shall fail to report to the Federal Department of Fisheries any incident of rejection of fish or fishery products exported by him giving full reasons and other details for the rejection.

  1. Designation of fish inspectors

For the purpose of enforcing these Regulations, the Federal Department of Fisheries shall have and maintain a branch called “Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance Branch”. Fisheries officers with food science or food technology or fish technology background shall be designated as “fish inspectors”.

  1. Duties and powers of fish inspectors

(1)    No person or corporate body shall hinder, obstruct, interfere, prevent, or attempt to or conspire, to hinder, obstruct, interfere, or prevent any fish inspector from carrying out his duties in enforcing these Regulations.

(2)    The fish inspector has powers to carry out duties as specified in Schedule V to these Regulations without hindrance.

(3)    The fish inspector may take free samples of fish or fishery products for the purpose of paragraph II, Schedule V to these Regulations.

(4)    The fish inspector may detain a suspected fish or fishery product and embargo its sale and the owner notified further checks give conclusive state of the product.

(5)    The fish inspector has power to seize and destroy fish or fishery product that is not fit for human consumption or fail to comply with paragraphs 5 and 10 of these Regulations or in pursuance of paragraph 14 of these Regulations.

(6)    The fish inspector has power to withdraw certification from a vessel as in paragraph I of these Regulations until full compliance is maintained.

(7)    The fish inspector has power to withdraw registration certificate from a coldroom or fish establishment as in paragraph 3 of these Regulations until full compliance is maintained.

  1. Guidelines on compliance with regulations

The Federal Department of Fisheries shall issue guidelines as and when deemed necessary for the purpose of facilitating compliance to these Regulations, It shall be an of- fence not to follow any guidelines so issued.

  1. Offences and penalties

Where any person contravenes the provisions of these Regulations, the following shall apply-

(a)    any vessel involved in contravening regulation 1 of these Regulations shall be grounded for non-certificate until compliance is effected. A fine of N50,000 shall be paid on conviction in a court;

(b)    penalty for the contravention of regulation 2 of these Regulations shall be the seizure and disposal of the fish or fishery products involved; and or payment of N25,000 on conviction in a court;

(c)    penalty for the contravention of regulations 3 and 4 of these Regulations shall be sealing of the establishment or coldroom; and payment of N25,000 on conviction in a court;

(d)    penalty for the contravention of regulations 5 and 6 of these Regulations shall be the seizure of the fish, and the tine of N 50,000 on conviction in a court;

(e)    penalty for the contravening of regulations 7 and 8 of these Regulations shall be the sealing of the coldroom, the seizure of vehicle and or the fish stored, and a fine of N20,000 on conviction in a court;

(f)     penalty for the contravening of regulation 9 of these Regulations shall be seizure of packed products (fish) and a tine of N25,000 on conviction in court;

(g)    penalty for the contravening of regulations 10 and II of these Regulations shall be the seizure of the fish or fishery product; and a fine of N50,000 on conviction;

(h)    penalty for contravening of regulations 12 and 13 or any other regulation of these Regulations shall be the closure of the establishment or coldroom, or grounding of the fishing vessel, or seizure of the fish as the case may be, and the payment of N50,000 on conviction in court.

  1. Disposal of seized fish or fishery products

All seized fish or fishery products in enforcing these Regulations shall be disposed of by the Federal Department of Fisheries as follows-

(a)    sale by auction of fish still fit for human consumption and the revenue paid to the Federal Government; and

(b)    destroying any fish unfit for human consumption.

  1. Compliance requirements

The compliance requirements contained in the Schedules to these Regulations are an integral part of these Regulations.

  1. Interpretation

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires-

“coldroom” means the same as coldstore used for storage of frozen fish or fishery products;

“consignment” means the quality of fishery products bound for one or more customers in the country of destination;

“establishment” means the premises authorised for the handling and packing of fresh or procured products;

“fish inspection” means the use of all methods and procedures available in effectively measuring the adequacy and value of quality could measures;

“fishery products” means all sea water and freshwater animals or parts thereof, including their food, excluding aquatic animals, frogs;

“fishery samples” means statistically taken fish samples which shall not be paid for by the Inspectors;

“fresh products” means fishery products, whether whole or prepared, which have not been submitted to any treatment to ensure preservation other than chilling;

“frozen products” means fishery products which have been submitted to a freezing process to reach a temperature of 18°C or lower.

“packaging” means the procedure of protecting fishery products by a wrapper, a container or any suitable device;

“prepared products” means fishery products having undergone an operation affecting their physical wholeness such as gutting, heading, slicing, filleting, chopping, etc.;

“processed products” means fishery products which have been submitted to a chemical or physical process such as heating, smoking, salting, dehydration or marinating of fresh products, whether or not associated with other foodstuffs or to a combination of these various processes;

“quality assurance” means all activities and functions concerned with the attainment of quality including functions of administration and management as well as technical operations such as inspection, testing and quality control;

“quality control” means steps taken to inhibit or retard deteriorative changes of quality in fish by any procedure, method, technique and process available;

“regulations” refers to the Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance Regulations.

  1. Citation

These Regulations may be cited as the Sea Fisheries (Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance) Regulations.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 [Paragraph I.]

Compliance requirements

CONDITIONS APPLICABLE TO VESSELS USED FOR FISHING OR TRANSPORTING FISH

Protection of catch

  1. Areas where fish and ice are stored shall-

(a)    have covers to protect the fish and ice from the weather;

(b)    be provided with drainage to effectively remove ice melt water and ensure that fish and ice do not come into contact with bilge water on other contaminants; and

(c)    where it is necessary to prevent physical damage to the fish, be divided into pens which shall be shelved vertically at intervals of 90 cm or less.

Construction of storage areas

  1. Fish and ice storage areas shall be of non-absorbent, non-corrodible trials and so constructed as to preclude physical damage to the fish and state cleaning, and any surfaces that contact fish shall be smooth and free from tracks and crevices.
  2. Boxes for fish other than live shell fish shall be of smooth, non-absorbent, non-corrodible materials, other than wood, free from cracks and crevices and so constructed as to provide drainage and protect the fish from damage by crushing when the boxes are stacked.

Construction of bulkheads

  1. 4. Fish storage areas shall be separated from the engine compartments and other heated areas of a vessel by water tight, insulated bulkheads and well surfaces; deckheads and bulkheads in frozen storage areas of a vessel shall be well insulated. Minimum “R” factor of 20 for insulation is to be ensured in fish storage areas.

Fish handling equipment and practices

  1. Fish handling equipment, such as chutes, conveyors, fish washers, tables and utensils, shall be of smooth, non-absorbent, non-corrodible materials other than wood, free from cracks and crevices and so constructed as to facilitate cleaning.
  2. Forks, pumps, tools or other equipment and practices that pierce, tear or otherwise damage or contaminate the edible portion of fish shall not be used.

Preservation of catch

  1. Fish, while on board a vessel, used for fishing or transporting fish, shall be-

(a)    preserved by the use of fine ice sufficient to reduce and hold the temperature at 4OC or lower, and such ice shall be made form water from a source approved by the Fish Inspection Branch; or

(b)    preserved by such other methods as may be approved by the Federal Department of Fisheries.

  1. Where chilled water systems are installed on a vessel, such system shall be of materials approved by the Federal Department of Fisheries and constructed to facilitate proper cleaning and be capable or holding fish at 1OC

Freezing facilities and practices

  1. Freezing facilities on a vessel shall be capable of freezing the daily catch at a rate equivalent to at least the freezing rate of a 25 mm thick block of fish when the temperature of the thermal center is reduced from 0 OC to 20 OC in two hours or less.
  2. (i) Fish on board a vessel shall be freezing at a rate not less than the rate prescribed by paragraph 9 of this Schedule.

(ii)    In the case of a packaged fish product on board a vessel, the time required to reduce the thermal center of a packaged product to 20 OC shall not exceed 36 hours.

  1. (i) Except for brine frozen fish, the thermal center or the fish on board a vessel shall be reduced to a temperature of 20 OC or lower before the fish can be removed from the frozen to the cold storage area.

(ii)    In the case of brine frozen fish on board a vessel, the thermal center of the fish shall be reduced to 12 OC before the fish can be removed from the freezer to the cold storage area.

  1. After freezing, fish on board a vessel shall be glazed or packaged to protect it against dehydration and oxidation.
  2. Storage areas in which frozen fish held on board a vessel shall be maintained at a temperature of 20 OC or lower.

Sanitation

  1. Fish-receiving areas and equipment, containers and utensils used in the hauling of fish on board a vessel shall be thoroughly cleaned with water from a source approved by the Fish Inspection Branch and disinfected at least once daily.
  2. Following the discharge of fish from a vessel, all equipment used in the handling of fish and the storage areas, chilled water system, such containers, pegboards and shelf boards shall be forthwith thoroughly cleaned with water from a source approved by the Fish Inspection Branch and disinfected.

Storage records

  1. 16. A storage record of the fish catch shall be kept on all fishing vessels and the identity of each day’s catch shall be maintained. Similarly the temperature chart of the cold storage area shall be maintained on an hourly basis.

Hand washing and toilet facilities

  1. 17. Hand-washing and marine-type toilet facilities shall be provided on vessels of 13 m length overall and above that have sleeping accommodation and shall be maintained in a clean and sanitary condition.

SCHEDULE II [Paragraphs 2 and 6.]

Requirements during and after landing on shore

Fish handling equipment and practices

  1. Unloading and landing equipment shall be constructed of material which is easy to clean and disinfect and shall be of non-corrodible materials, free from cracks and crevices, and shall be kept in a good state of repair and cleanliness.
  2. During unloading and landing, contamination of fishery products shall be avoided. It shall be ensured that-

(a)    unloading and landing operations proceed rapidly;

(b)    equipment and handling practices that cause damage to the edible parts of the fishery products are not allowed.

Construction of receiving and sales areas

  1. Parts of auction or wholesale markets where fishery products are displayed for sale shall- (a) be covered and have walls which are easy to clean;

(b)    have waterproof flooring which is easy to wash and disinfect and laid in such a way as to facilitate the drainage of water and have a hygienic waste water disposal system;

(c)    be equipped with sanitary facilities with as appropriate number of wash basins and flush lavatories. Wash basins shall be supplied with materials for cleaning the hands and single-use hand towels;

(d)    be well lit to facilitate the inspection of fishery products;

(e)    when they are used for display or storage of fishery products, not to be used for other purposes;

(f)     be cleaned regularly, crates shall be cleaned and rinsed inside and outside with portable water and shall be disinfected after each sale;

(g)    have displayed in a prominent position signs prohibiting smoking, instituting, eating and drinking;

(h)    be closable and kept closed when the fish inspection branch considers it necessary;

(i)     have facilities to provide adequate potable water supplies;

(j)     have special water-tight receptacles made if corrosion-resistant materials for  fishery products which are unfit for human consumption.

  1. After landing or, where appropriate, after first sale, fishery products shall be transported without delay under conditions laid in Schedule VII of these Regulations, to their place of destination.
  2. 5. The general conditions of hygiene laid down in Schedule III paragraph 2 with the exception of point B I (a) of this Annex shall apply mutatis mutandis to the markets in which fishery products are displayed for sale or stored.
  3. 6. The general conditions of hygiene laid down in Schedule III, section 11 of this Annex shall apply mutatis mutandis to wholesale markets.

SCHEDULE III [Paragraph 3.]

General conditions for establishments on land

General conditions relating to premises and equipment

Establishment shall afford at least the following facilities

  1. Working areas of sufficient size for work to be earned out under adequate hygiene conditions, Their design and layout shall be such as to preclude contamination of the product and keep quite separate the clean and contaminated parts of the building.
  2. In areas where products are handled, prepared and processed-

(a)    waterproof flooring which is easy to clean and disinfect and laid down in such a way as to facilitate the drainage of the water;

(b)    walls which have smooth surfaces and are light in colour, easy to clean, durable  and impermeable;

(c)    ceilings or roof linings which are easy to clean;

(d)    doors in durable materials which are easy to clean;

(e)    adequate ventilation and, where necessary, good steam and water-vapour extraction facilities;

(f)     adequate lighting;

(g)    an adequate number of facilities for cleaning and disinfecting hands, in work rooms and lavatories taps shall not be hand-operable. These facilities shall be provided with single one hand towels;

(h)    facilities for cleaning plant, equipment and utensils.

  1. In cold rooms where fishery products are stored-

(i)     the provisions set out under sub-paragraph 2 (a), (b), (c) and (i) shall apply;

(ii)    there must be a sufficiently powerful refrigeration plant to keep the products at temperatures prescribed in these Regulations.

  1. Appropriate facilities for protection against pests such as insects, rodents, birds, etc.
  2. Instruments and working equipment such as cutting labels, containers, conveyor belts and knives made of corrosion-resistant materials, easy to clean and disinfect.
  3. 6. Special watertight, corrosion-resistant containers for fishery products not intended for human consumption.
  4. Facilities to provide adequate supplies of potable water under pressure.
  5. A hygienic waste water disposal system.
  6. An adequate number of changing rooms with smooth, waterproof, washable walls and floors, wash basins and flush lavatories, The latter should not open directly on to the work rooms. The wash basin shall have materials for cleaning the hands and disposable towels, the wash basin taps shall not be hand-operable.

GENERAL CONDITIONS OF HYGIENE

General conditions of hygiene applicable to premises and equipment

  1. Floors, walls and partitions, coiling or roof linings, equipment and instruments used for working on fishery products shall be kept in a satisfactory state of cleanliness and repair, so that they do not constitute a source of contamination for the products.
  2. 2. Rodents, insects and any other vermin shall be systematically determined in the premises of on the equipment. Rodenticides, insecticides, or disinfections and any other potentially toxic substances shall be stored in rooms or cupboards which can be locked; their use shall not present any risk of contamination of the products.
  3. 3. Working areas, instruments and working equipment shall be used only for work in fishery products unless authorised by the Fish Inspection Branch.
  4. 4. Permitted and authorised detergents, disinfectants and similar substances shall be used in such a way that they do not have advance affects on the machinery, equipment and products.

General conditions of hygiene applicable to staff

  1. The highest possible standard of cleanliness is required of staff as follows-

(a)    staff shall wear suitable working cloths and headgear which completely enclose their hair. This applies particularly to persons handling exposed fishery pro- ducts;

(b)    staff assigned to the handling and preparation of fishery products shall be required to wash their hands at least the lime work is to be resumed; wounds on the hands shall be covered by a waterproof dressing;

(c)    smoking, spitting, eating and drinking in work and storage areas of fishery products are prohibited.

  1. The employer shall take all the requisite measures to prevent persons liable to contaminate fishery products from working on and handling them until there is evidence that such person can do so without risk.
  2. When recruited, any person working on and handling fishery products shall be required to prove, by a medical certificate, that there is no impediment.

SCHEDULE IV

SPECIAL CONDITIONS FOR HANDLING FISHER Y PRODUCTS ON SHORE

Conditions for fresh products

  1. (a) When chilled unpackaged products are dispatched, prepared or processed immediately after reaching the establishment, they shall be stored or displayed under ice in the establishment.

(b)    Re-icing shall be carried out as often as is necessary.

(c)    The ice used shall be made from potable water and be sorted under hygienic conditions in receptacles provided for the purpose.

(d)    Prepacked fresh products shall be chilled in ice or refrigerated chill rooms.

  1. 2. Operations such as heading, gutting and dressing shall be carried out-

(a)    hygienically and washed thoroughly with potable water;

(b)    in such a way as to avoid contamination or spoilage of fillets and slices;

(c)    not in a place other than that used for heading and gutting operations.

  1. Guts and parts that may constitute a danger to public health shall be separated from and removed from vicinity of products intended for human consumption.
  2. Containers used for the dispatch or storage of fresh fishery products shall be designed in such a way as to ensure both their protection from contamination and their preservation under sufficiently hygiene conditions and, more particularly, they shall provide adequate drainage of melt water.
  3. 5. Waste shall either be continuously disposed or be placed in leakproof, covered containers which are easy to clean and disinfect waste shall not be allowed to accumulate in working areas. The containers, receptacles or premises set aside for waste shall always be thoroughly cleaned and if appropriate disinfected after use.

Conditions for frozen products

  1. Plants shall have-

(a)    freezing equipment sufficiently powerful to achieve a rapid reduction in the temperature so that the temperature laid down in these Regulations can be obtained in the product;

(b)    freezing equipment sufficiently powerful to keep products in storage rooms at a temperature not exceeding those laid down in these Regulations, whatever the ambient temperature may be.

  1. Fresh products to be frozen shall comply with the requirements of section 1 of this Schedule.
  2. Storage rooms shall have a temperature recording device in a place where it can easily be read. The temperature sensor of the recorder shall be located in the area further away from the cold source, that is where the temperature in the storage room is the highest.
  3. Temperature charts shall be available for inspection by fish inspectors at least during the period in which the products are stored.

CONDITIONS FOR THAWING PRODUCTS

Establishments that carry out thawing operations shall comply with the

following requirements

  1. 1. Fishery products shall be thawed under hygienic conditions; their contamination shall be avoided and there shall be adequate drainage for any melt water produced; during thawing, the temperature of the products shall not increase excessively.
  2. After thawing, fishery products must be handled in accordance with this requirement-

(a)    when they are prepared or processed, these operations shall be carried out without delay;

(b)    if they are put directly onto the market, the unsold consignment cannot be put back into coldrooms for frozen products. They shall be stored only in chill rooms.

Conditions for processed products

  1. Fresh, frozen and thawed products used for processing shall comply with the requirements of sections 1 and IT of this Schedule.
  2. 2. Where the processing treatment is carried out to inhibit the development of pathogenic- organisms, or if it is a significant factor in the preservation of the product, the treatment shall be scientifically recognised and in accordance with the internationally recommended codes of practice by the Alimentarius Commission for such a product; employing good manufacturing practice.

The person responsible for an establishment shall keep a register of the processing carried out. Depending on the type of process employed, beating time and temperature, salt con- tent, PH, water content, etc., shall be monitored and controlled. Records shall be kept at least for the expected storage life of the products and be available to the fish inspectors.

  1. For products which are preserved for a limited period by a treatment such as salting, smoking, drying or marindering, the appropriate conditions for storage shall be clearly marked on the packaging.

In addition, the following conditions shall be compiled with-

Canning

  1. In the case of fishery products which have been subjected to moralisation in hermetically sealed containers-

(a)    the water used for the preparation of cans shall be potable water;

(b)    (i)     the process used for local treatment shall be appropriate, having regard to such major criteria as the heating time, temperature, filling, size of containers, etc.; a record of which must be kept;

(ii)    the heat treatment should be capable of destroying or inactivating pathogenic organisms and the spares of pathogenic micro-organisms;

(iii)    the heating equipment must be fitted with devices for varying whether the containers have in fact undergone appropriate heat treatment;

(iv)   potable water shall be used to cool containers after heat treatment, without prejudice to the presence of any chemical additives used in accordance with good technological practice to prevent corrosion of the equipment and containers;

(c)    further checks shall be carried out at random by the manufacturer to ensure that the processed products have undergone appropriate heat treatment viz micro- biological examination of contacts and containers in the establishment’s laboratory or in another approval laboratory;

(d)    samples shall be taken of production each day at predetermined intervals, to ensure the sufficiency of sealing. For that purpose, appropriate equipment shall be available for the examination of cross-sections of the can-seams;

(e)    checks are carried out in order to ensure that containers are not damaged;

(f)     all containers which have undergone heat treatment under practically identical conditions shall be given a batch identification mark.

Smoking

  1. Smoking shall be carried out in separate premises or a special place equipped, if necessary, with a ventilation system to prevent the smoke and heat from the combustion from affecting other premises or places where fishery products are prepared, procured or stored-

(a)    materials used to produce smoke for the smoking of fish shall be stored away from the place of smoking and shall be used in such a way that they do not contaminate the products;

(b)    materials used to produce smoke by burning wood that has been painted, varnished, glued or has undergone any chemical preservation treatment is prohibited;

(c)    after smoking, products shall be cooled rapidly to the temperature required for their preservation before being packaged.

Salting

  1. 6. (a) Salting operations shall take place in different premises and sufficiently removed from the premises where the other operations are carried out.

(b)    Salt used in the treatment of fishery products shall be clean and stored in such a way as to preclude contamination. It shall not be re-used.

(c)    Any container used for salting or curing shall be constructed in such a way as to pre- vent contamination during the salting or curing process.

(d)    Containers or areas used for salting or curing shall be cleaned before use.

Cooked crustaceans and molluscan shellfish products 7. Crustaceans and molluscan shellfish shall be cooked as follows-

(a)    any cooking shall be followed by rapid cooling; water used for this purpose shall be potable water, clean sea water, if no other method of prevention is used, cooling shall continue until the temperature approaching that of melting ice is reached;

(b)    (i)     shelling or shucking shall be carried out under hygienic conditions avoiding the contamination of the product;

(ii)    where such operations are done by hand, workers shall pay particular attention to the washing of their hands and all working surfaces shall be cleaned thoroughly;

(iii)    if machines are used, they shall be cleaned at frequent intervals and disinfected after such working day;

(iv)   after shelling, or shucking, cooked products shall immediately be frozen or kept chilled at a temperature which will preclude the growth of pathogens, and be stored in appropriate premises;

(c)    every manufacturer must carry out microbiological checks on his production at regular intervals, complying with the approved standards.

Mechanically recovered fish flesh

  1. The mechanical recovery of fish flesh shall be carried out under the following conditions-

(a)    mechanical recovery of gutted fish shall take place without undue delay after filleting, using raw materials free or guts. Where whole fish are used, they shall be gutted and washed beforehand;

(b)    the machinery shall be cleaned at frequent intervals and at least every two hours;

(c)    after recovery mechanically recovered flesh shall be frozen as quickly as possible or incorporated in a product intended for freezing or stabilizing treatment.

Conditions concerning parasites

  1. During production and before they are released for human consumption, fish and fish products shall be subject to a visual inspection for the purpose of detecting and removing any parasites that are visible.
  2. Fish or parts of fish which are obviously infested with parasites, and which are removed, shall not be placed on the market for human consumption.

 

SCHEDULE V

[Regulation 12.]

QUALITY CONTROL AND MONITORING OF PRODUCTION CONDITION

General monitoring

Arrangements for checking and monitoring shall be made by the Federal Department of Fisheries “Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance Branch” so as to establish whether the requirements laid down in this Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance Regulation’s policy are complied with. Such arrangements shall include in particular-

(1)    Check on the fishing vessels during their stay in the port.

(2)    A check on the conditions of landing and first sale.

(3)    An inspection at regular intervals of establishments to check, in particular-

(a)    whether the conditions for approval and registration are still fulfilled;

(b)    whether the fishery products are handled correctly;

(c)    the cleanliness of the premises, facilities and instruments and staff hygiene;

(d)    whether identification marks are put correctly.

(4)    An inspection of the wholesale and auction markets.

(5)    A check on storage and transport conditions.

(6)    A check on fish or fishery products whether they are fit for human consumption.

SPECIAL CHECKS

Sensory assessment

Each batch of fishery products shall be submitted for inspection by fish inspectors of Federal Department of Fisheries “Fish Inspection and Quality Assurance Branch” at the time of landing or before first sale to check whether they are for human consumption. This inspection comparison sensory assassinate carried out by sampling.

If the sensory examination reveals any doubt as to the freshness of the fishery products, use may be made of laboratory checks.

Laboratory checks

  1. Chemical checks

(1)    Samples shall be taken and subjected to laboratory analysis for the control of the following parameters-

(a)    TVB-N (Total Volatile Basic Nitrogen) and TMA N (Timothylamine Nitro- gen);

(b)    Histamine.

Nine samples shall be taken from each batch. These shall fulfil the following requirements-

(i)     the mean value shall not exceed 100 ppm;

(ii)    two samples may have a value of more than 100 ppm but less than 200 ppm; (iii) no sample may have a value exceeding 200 ppm.

(2)    Contaminants present in aquatic environment

Without prejudice to other legislation concerning water protection and management, fishery products shall not contain in their edible parts contaminants present as the square environment such as heavy metals and organ chlorinated substances at such a level that the calculated dietary intake exceeds the acceptable daily or weekly intake for humans.

A monitoring system shall be established by the Federal Department of Fisheries to check the level of contaminations of fishery products.

(3)    The methods of analysis to be used to check the chemical parameters as well as sampling plan, and the acceptance levels for the chemical parameters are to be approved.

  1. Microbiological analysis

Without prejudice to other legislation, the microbiological criteria, including samples, plans and methods of analysis, are to be laid down and approved when there is a need to protect public health.

SCHEDULE VI [Regulation 9.]

Packaging and identification marks

Without prejudice to other legislation relating to fishery product packaging, these conditions shall also apply in addition.

  1. Packaging shall be carried out under satisfactory conditions of hygiene, to proclude contamination of the fishery products.
  2. Packaging materials and products liable to enter into contact with fishery products shall comply with all the rules of hygiene, and in particular-

(a)    they shall not be such as to impair the organolepic characteristics of the fishery products;

(b)    they shall not be capable of transmitting to the fishery products substances harmful to human health;

(c)    they shall be strong enough to protect the fishery products adequately.

  1. With the exception of certain special containers inside of impervious, smooth and corrosion resistant material which are easy to clean and disinfect, which may be re-used after cleaning and disinfecting, packaging materials may not be re-used. Packaging materials used for fresh products held under ice shall provide adequate drainage for melt water.
  2. Unused packaging materials shall be stored in premises away from the production area and be protected from dust and contamination.
  3. It must be possible to trace for inspection purposes the establishment of dispatch of consignments of fishery products by means of both labelling and accompanying documents. For that purpose, the following information shall appear on the packaging and in accompanying documents in English language-

(a)    the full address indicating the location of the establishment (street name and number, city, state and country);

(b)    identification of the establishment by its official registration number with the Federal Department of Fisheries;

(c)    the net weight in kilogramme of product in the package or bag;

(d)    description of the fish, e.g, Large, Medium, Small or Mixed, and the species  name (e.g. Small Croaker),

  1. Fish shall be stored and packaged or boxed for sale according to species and size. The size ranges for large, medium or small for any species shall be in accordance with that approved by the Federal Department of Fisheries.

SCHEDULE VII [Regulations 7 and 8.]

Storage and transport

  1. 1. Fishery products shall, during storage and transport, be kept at the temperature laid down in these Regulations and in particular-

(a)    fresh or thawed products and cooked and chilled Crustacean and molluscan shellfish products shall be kept at the temperature of melting ice;

(b)    frozen fishery products shall be kept at an even temperature of 30 OC or less in all parts of the products allowing for the possibility of brief upward fluctuations of not more than 3 OC during transport.

  1. Vehicles used for the transport of fishery products shall be constructed and equipped in such a way that-

(a)    the temperatures laid down in these regulations can be maintained throughout the period of transport;

(b)    if ice is used to chill the products, adequate drainage shall be provided in order to ensure that water from melted ice does not stay in contact with the products;

(c)    the inside surfaces do not adversely affect the fishery products;

(d)    they shall be smooth and easy to clean and disinfect.

  1. 3. Means of transport used for fishery products shall not be used for transporting other products likely to impair or contaminate fishery products.
  2. Fishery products are not to be transported in a vehicle or container which is not clean or which should have been disinfected
  3. Fishery products are to be transported in vehicles with covered and insulated body. Frozen products travelling over a distance of more than 30 kilometres should be transported in refrigerated vehicles.
Law Nigeria Admin
Law Nigeria Admin

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