Cablegate: Nigeria: Still Fishing for Compliance On Turtle

This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

UNCLAS LAGOS 001778

SIPDIS

STATE FOR OES CLAYTON STANGER; STATE PLEASE PASS TO NOAA
BOB HOFFMAN

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: EFIS ETRD EIND PHSA SENV NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIA: STILL FISHING FOR COMPLIANCE ON TURTLE
EXCLUDER DEVICES

1. Summary. Fishing industry leaders claim product loss
from the use of turtle excluder devices (TEDs) outweighs
potential gains derived from renewed trade with the U.S.
Without industry support, it will be difficult for the
government alone - even if it intensifies efforts beyond
their current relatively passive level - to bring Nigeria
into compliance with U.S. regulations on TED usage. The
country's most prominent shrimp trawler promised that
stricter legislation to enforce TED usage would be swift and
enforceable if U.S. experts can convince the industry both
that enough turtles swim in Nigerian waters to merit TEDs and
that the product loss associated with TED use would not be
substantial. End Summary.

Industry Claims 30 - 40 Per cent Losses Due to TEDs
--------------------------------------------- ------

3. Manjit Sadarangani, Managing Director of Atlantic
Shrimpers, estimated that TEDs caused him to lose thirty to
forty per cent of his catch. Sadarangani's company owns 72
vessels, approximately 25 per cent of all Nigerian-owned
trawlers. Sadarangani explained that losses associated with
TED usage were too high to make them palatable to local
industry and, therefore, regulations requiring their use were
routinely ignored.

Industry Survey Shows Turtle Population Insignificant
--------------------------------------------- --------

4. Sadarangani conducted his own survey of 25,000 trawling
sessions between May and August 2004 on forty-six of his
ships, not using TEDs. The captains' logs show only
thirty-three turtles were caught, none leatherback, the
largest smaller than 32" in diameter, and only one hauled in
dead. Each trawl lasted approximately two and a half hours.

Atlantic Shrimpers Requests U.S. Assistance
-------------------------------------------

5. (SBU) Sadarangani refused to divulge the results of his
study to the GON who, he said, would fixate on the fact that
he had not used TEDs during the period of the study and "shut
down" his operations. He named both the Director and Deputy
Director of the Federal Department of Fisheries, Monitoring,
Control, and Surveillance Unit. He implored the U.S. for
assistance in verifying his results or, alternatively, to
send experts to demonstrate that, if properly used, TEDs do
not cause unacceptable levels of product loss. Experts
estimate an average of 3-5 per cent loss from proper use of
TED's, which Sadarangani said would be acceptable; whereas,
30-40 per cent is very high and therefore unacceptable.
(Note. Sadarangani included large fish caught during a trawl
and known to escape through TEDs as part of his estimate.
End Note.)

U.S. Not a Key Export Market for Nigeria
----------------------------------------

6. Sadarangani noted that large-scale fishers in Nigeria do
not see the U.S. as an extremely profitable market and that,
prior to decertification, exports to the U.S. were only 1 per
cent of industry proceeds. Nonetheless, he felt certain that
stricter TED enforcement procedures could be legislated if
government had industry backing. He boasted he had the clout
to convince industry operators to use TEDs even without
government regulations, but told us he was hesitant to
promote a product that would take a huge cut out of a day's
catch.

7. Comment. With the U.S. not a key market for Nigerian
seafood exports, the certification process is not an
effective tool to encourage TED use. Instead, efforts to
persuade the industry that their economic interests will not
be harmed by using TEDs and assistance in demonstrating the
proper use of TEDs would be more effective in promoting the
use of TEDs. Without successfully convincing industry
leaders that TEDs will not have a disastrous impact on catch
size, the GON will not be able to regulate TED use
effectively. End Comment.
BROWNE

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