Nigeria EEZ

Location

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Key Information

TYPE

Non-MPA

Jurisdictional Authority Area

DESIGNATION

Jurisdictional Authority

LOCATED IN

Nigeria

AREA

213,582 km²	MARINE AREA
213,582 km²	TOTAL AREA ⁱ

MANAGED BY

Nigeria Federal Department of Fisheries

Management Website

LEVEL OF FISHING PROTECTION (LFP)

Moderately restrictive ⁱ

Several species- or gear-specific restrictions apply, or:

Commercial marine life removal is prohibited
Both commercial and recreational marine life removal are heavily restricted
Recreational marine life removal is prohibited, and commercial marine life removal is restricted

DATA SOURCE(S)

Boundary: Flanders Marine Institute (2019). Maritime Boundaries Geodatabase: Maritime Boundaries and Exclusive Economic Zones (200NM), version 11. Available online at https://www.marineregions.org/. (Unmodified)

DATA VERSION

1.0

LAST REVIEWED

January 2023

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Purpose

To protect the diverse natural resources of Nigeria.

Species of Concern: sea turtles, fish, crabs, crayfish

Regulations Summary

Restrictions

Nigeria has sovereign rights for the purpose of exploring and exploiting, conserving and managing the natural resources, whether living or non-living, of these waters. Fishing restrictions, such as bag limits, seasons, and size restrictions apply. Please consult the local fishing laws for more information.

In accordance with the Sea Fisheries Act, the following restrictions apply:
1. 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. 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:
(a) by the use of any explosive substance;
or (b) by the use of any noxious or poisonous matter.

In accordance with the Sea Fisheries (Fishing) Regulations, the following restrictions apply:
1. A fishing vessel licensed to fish in Nigeria's territorial waters, or its exclusive economic zone, shall not dump edible and marketable sea products at sea.
2. 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.