INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF MULTIDISCIPLINARY RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS ISSN(print): 2643-9840, ISSN(online): 2643-9875 Volume 05 Issue 06 June 2022 DOI: 10.47191/ijmra/v5-i6-19, Impact Factor: 6.261 Page No. 1331-1335 IJMRA, Volume 5 Issue 06 June 2022 www.ijmra.in Page 1331 Industrial Fishing in Obolo (Andoni), 1970-2020 Maclean Donald Mbikan 1 , Ubongabasi Ebenezer Israel 2 1,2 University Of Uyo, Uyo-Nigeria ABSTRACT: The paper explores the impact of industrial fishing on the Obolo (Andoni) people. The Obolo people sometime called Andoni are among the various ethnic groups found in the Niger Delta region precisely, the Eastern Niger Delta. Presently the Obolo speaking people are found in two local government areas, namely; Andoni local government, administered by the Rivers State government, while the Eastern Obolo Local Government is in Akwa Ibom State. Traditionally, fishing is the main occupation of the people. Other occupations of the people include, commerce, farming and marine transportation. The Obolo people are artisanal fishermen and women who engaged in fishing in the creeks, rivers and later in the open sea (Atlantic Ocean). The emergent of industrial or mechanized fishing which probably began in Nigeria in the 1950s has led to an increase in both Nigerian and foreign fishing trawler vessels; which ultimately led to what is described in fishery as “by -catch” and “discard”. Ukpatu (2012:3) defines the “by-catch” as anything the fishermen does not intend to catch namely; sea turtle, fish, crabs, shrimps , sharks, weed and sea debris; while “discard referred to the sub-set of the by-catch or portion of the catch that is thrown over into the sea, Andoni Forum, USA (2004:1). The by-catch is a new trend in fishing among the Obolo in particular and the coastal communities in general. The new trend is described in Obolo language as “Kpokpoben” meaning “don’t select” or “just carry” or “trawler”. The Kpokpoben provides employment, food, boast economic activities of the people of the coastal communities. In spite of what seem to be the advantages, its adverse effects include, depletion in natural fish stock, damage to fishing gears, loss of lives and property. Other adverse effects are increase in sea piracy and water pollution. The study recommends among others, the review / overhaul of the fishery laws in Nigeria, equipping the Nigerian Navy with modern security gadgets and mounting an enlightenment campaign in English and Local languages to create an awareness on the adverse effects of the kpokpoben on the Andoni environment INTRODUCTION The Obolo inhabit the extreme corner of the Eastern Niger-Delta region of Nigeria. The territory has between the Bonny river to the west, Bonny to the South west, Ogoni to the North west, Ibibio to the northeast, Cross River to the east and the Atlantic Ocean to the South. Andoni Forum in (2004:2). The Obolo territory is divided by the estuary of the Imo River to the Atlantic Ocean into Eastern and Western Obolo (Andoni). The Obolo settlement stretched originally from the estuary of the Cross River to Inyong Okpon / Nyamkpo – the precursor of Finima and Bonny today. As a littoral community, her predominant occupation is fishing, salt making (in precolonial) trading and marine transportation. The Obolo people are famous creeks/rivers fishermen and women. They also engage in open sea fishing, usually in groups of five or more. Many of the fishermen now use outboard engines. Our area of study, politically comprised the two local government areas of Obolo speaking people administered by Rivers State and Akwa Ibom State respectively. These local government areas are, Andoni local government with its headquarters at Okoroete administered by the Akwa Ibom State government. They speak the same language “Obolo”. It is not certain when mechanized fishing began in Nigeria. It may have started in the 1950s. The emergence of industrial fishing has tremendous effects on the artisanal Obolo fishermen and women. The industrial fishing has increased “the-catch” and “discard” with its implications on the Obolo environment. Despite what seem to be an economic advantages of industrial fishing on the people, the trend if not check may adversely affect the people in no distant time. FISHING IN OBOLO (ANDONI) Obolo is geographically located in the Eastern Niger Delta, presently in the South-South geopolitical zone of Nigeria. Naturally the people’s occupation are affected by the area in which they live. The environment is vast and congenial network of creeks, waterways and myriads of mangrove clad dictate their occupation. The people derived their main livelihood in farming, trading and marine transportation. Fishing activity in the area could be divided into two, namely; traditional or subsistence and