Okrika in Rivers State, Nigeria, with its rich cultural heritage has fishing as her means of livelihood; both the young and the aged engage in this occupation as there’s no room for gender bias.

While the old folks engage in fishing using nets and boats to sail on the sea, the young adults deal with fishing traps and hooks while others go on scouting for other sea foods such as oyster, periwinkle, conch, clam, amongst others.

The womenfolk are not left out as they help their husbands and sons put up these catches for merchandise.

Sadly, however, on Sunday, 31 December, 2023, Kristina Reports learnt that the regular activities of bunkering and shipping of goods by marine vessels has made a mess of their livelihood, making it hazardous and unconducive.

Speaking, one of the travellers, who plies the Kalio route, pleading anonymity, lamented over the deplorable situation, counting that these past years have been really bad.

“I remember, growing up, we looked healthy because of our intake of sea foods which are very nutritious. As it is now, you cannot even lay hands on these sea foods. All of them have gone into extinction.”

An aged woman simply known as Mama Lolo, who spoke to Kristina Reports in her native Wakirike language, said she is very scared of eating fish and other sea foods, expressing fear that she does not want to die before her time.

“I saw crude oil in my periwinkle I bought from the market. I soaked it so I can cook it, the crude oil where over the surface of the water. Am I actually eating periwinkle or I’m drinking crude oil?”

Speaking also, a native of Ojimba, Divine Tony told Kristina Reports that the hazards on the sea affects other areas.

“All these big ships and vessels are also responsible for the deplorable situation on our sea life. They throw dirt into the water and these dirt floats.”

“We can relate with it because these dirt and refuse actually slows traveling on the sea, it spoils the engine of the boat. Most times our journey has to stop halfway on the sea because the boat driver is trying to remove dirt from the engine.”

“Most times, it becomes difficult to restart the engine, he then calls on others for help, and right on the sea we are transferred to another boat, and most times, the sea is usually rough, this alone puts the life of people in danger.”

Checks by Kristina Reports show that the boat pilots are also affected as they all decry the deplorable situation of the aquatic life.