The National President, Catfish and Allied Fish Farmers Association of Nigeria (CAFFAN), Dr. Momoh Mustapha, has condemned aquatic environmental pollution by Nigerians.

Mustapha spoke during a phone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Tuesday.

The CAFFAN president urged Nigerians to be educated about the dangers of aquatic environmental pollution on the aquatic biota.

“There should be a lot of sensitization on waste disposal through public enlightenment.

“Especially, via publications, jingles, seminars and the media on the dangers or threats of indiscriminate dumping of wastes, outwashes/effluent in the environment,” Mustapha said.

He said that the dumping of wastes should be done in such a way that the wastes would be treated and converted into fertilizer instead of emptying them into the ocean.

Mustapha urged the public to discourage the habit of using plastic/nylon bags that pollute the environment, the lagoons, and oceans.

He said that aquatic environmental pollution could lead to the loss of fish and fisheries resources, breeding grounds or spawning sites, and extinction of species.

“Industries and individuals should be warned to desist from indiscriminate dumping of wastewater,” the president said.

He urged members of the public to encourage the construction of effluent collection centers where treatment could be done to drastically reduce the potency of the active ingredients.

“It’s really the government that has a major role in addressing environmental issues.

“Policies concerning safeguarding our water bodies should be enacted and offenders should be punished,” Mustapha said.