US embassy cable - 05LAGOS1778

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