Fishers in Cross River State have raised the alarm over shrinking daily catches, severe water pollution, and the steady disappearance of vital mangrove forests along coastal communities. The crisis is threatening the livelihoods of thousands of traditional fishers who depend on the state’s rivers and creeks for economic survival.
To combat these mounting environmental pressures, civil society organisations have stepped in to train community members. According to recent reports detailing the community engagement, the Peace Point Development Foundation (PPDF) and the Health of Mother Earth Foundation (HOMEF) recently organised capacity-building workshops for fishers in affected areas such as Esuk Atu.
The training sessions are designed to equip local residents with the skills needed to document environmental degradation, defend their community rights, and demand accountability from corporate actors and government regulators. Participants were taught how to record instances of oil spills, industrial effluent discharge, and illegal logging of mangrove trees.
Threats to Coastal Livelihoods and Ecosystems
Mangrove forests serve as natural nurseries for fish and shellfish, while also protecting shorelines from erosion and severe weather events. However, decades of industrial activity, unregulated waste disposal, and logging have severely depleted these coastal ecosystems across the Niger Delta region, including parts of Cross River State.
Local fishers report that dwindling fish populations have drastically reduced their household incomes, pushing many families into extreme economic hardship. Despite repeated appeals to local authorities for intervention, affected communities claim that little action has been taken to curb polluting practices or restore degraded waterways.
Environmental rights advocates note that empowering grassroots populations is a crucial step in bridging the gap between vulnerable communities and regulatory agencies. By documenting ecological violations independently, local fishers can present verifiable evidence to state and federal authorities.
Community leaders and participating civil society groups are expected to compile the documented evidence into formal petitions. These findings will be presented to relevant government agencies, including the Cross River State Ministry of Environment and federal regulatory bodies, demanding immediate inspections and stricter enforcement of environmental laws.
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