Nigerian fishing companies are set to be recertified to export shrimps to the United States (U.S), U.S Department of Commerce National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration, has said.
An official of the agency and fisheries expert, Jack Forrester who is leading a team to recertify the nation’s fishing trawler facilities said in Lagos that Nigeria is one of the nations exporting shrimps to the U.S which has met the requirements on exportation harvest of shrimp in a manner that does not affect sea turtle species.
He said the State Department will recommend to the U.S Congress to grant the certification to the nation’s offshore shrimp fishery.
The recommendation is based on the acknowledgement that the nation’s fleet performs sustainable fisheries and protects sea turtles, in compliance with international standards.
As a result of this, he said Nigeria may continue to export shrimps to the U.S following the recommendation to the congress.
U.S government, he said, makes certifications of shrimp exporting countries annually and bases them in part on verification visits to exporting countries.