VZCZCXRO7766
RR RUEHPA
DE RUEHOS #0664/01 2781059
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 051059Z OCT 07
FM AMCONSUL LAGOS
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9472
INFO RUEHZK/ECOWAS COLLECTIVE
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 9240
RUEHNY/AMEMBASSY OSLO 0133
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH AFB UK
RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC
RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC
RHEBAAA/DEPT OF ENERGY WASHINGTON DC
RUEATRS/DEPT OF TREASURY WASHDC
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHINGTON DC
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHINGTON DC

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 02 LAGOS 000664 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR AF/W, INR/AA, DS/IP/AF, DS/ICI/PII, DS/DSS/OSAC 
OSLO FOR HELENA SCHRADER 
DOE FOR GPERSON, CAROLYN GAY 
TREASURY FOR ASEVERENS, SRENENDER, DFIELDS 
COMMERCE FOR KBURRESS 
STATE PASS USTR FOR ASST USTR FLISER 
STATE PASS TRANSPORTATION FOR MARAD 
STATE PASS OPIC FOR ZHAN AND MSTUCKART 
STATE PASS TDA FOR NCABOT 
STATE PASS EXIM FOR JRICHTER 
STATE PASS USAID FOR GWEYNAND AND SLAWAETZ 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/05/2017 
TAGS: PGOV OES PREL ASEC NI
SUBJECT: NIGERIAN SHRIMPING INDUSTRY DECRIES PIRATE ATTACKS 
 
Classified By: Acting Consul General Vicki Hutchinson for reasons 1.4 ( 
B) and (D) 
 
¶1.  (SBU) Summary: During a recent Turtle Excluder Device 
(TED) inspection visit, many Nigerian shrimp companies told 
the Poloff that pirates have boarded their boats, robbed 
their crew and equipment, and confiscated their catches. 
Eight Nigerian shrimp companies operate approximately 150 
boats in the Bight of Bonny near the Niger Delta, a region 
most commonly known for militant activity aimed at 
international oil companies.  According to industry contacts, 
the Nigerian Navy Patrol has been unable to police the waters 
to secure the shrimp fleets' safety. End Summary. 
 
--------------------------------- 
Pirates Ransack Vessels For Booty 
--------------------------------- 
 
¶2.  (C) According to the Managing Director of ORC Fishing and 
Food Processing Ltd. (Nigeria), the third largest shrimp 
fleet in Nigeria, security is a "very sensitive topic" 
because although piracy has long posed a problem, the 
Nigerian naval patrol has done little to combat it.  On 
August 7, pirates (widely recognized as armed Niger Delta 
inhabitants who use outboard motor boats to approach shrimp 
vessels) looted a vessel's radios, electronics, the crew's 
personal belongings, and the boat's catch.  This company 
representative said the frequency of pirate attacks varies; 
sometimes months will pass without a robbery and sometimes 
one boat will be hit multiple times a day.  The most damaging 
aspect of a pirate attack, especially when there is violence 
against the workers, is a plummet in crew morale. 
 
¶3.  (C) Another company's captain commented that the security 
situation appears to have improved between June and September 
2007, but he also acknowledged the tide was "much worse" 
during this period and may have kept pirates from the open 
water.  Another captain predicted that, as they had in 
previous years, attacks would become more frequent as the 
holiday season approached. 
 
------------------------------- 
Pirate Attacks, High Gas Prices 
Low Catch Make 2007 a Hard Year 
------------------------------- 
 
¶4.  (SBU) Many shrimp company representatives voiced the same 
concerns to the Poloff: pirate attacks, increased gas prices, 
and a lo catch this year have made operations expensive and 
difficult.  The largest shrimp company operating in Nigeria 
said one way it is addressing high operating costs is by dry 
docking its boats more frequently than is the norm.  Dry 
docking entails raising boats out of the water so rust and 
barnacles can be cleaned from the hull.  This, our 
interlocutor said, allows for more efficient fuel use. 
 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
Minimal Export to U.S.--Eco-Friendly Euro Label 
--------------------------------------------- -- 
 
¶5.  (SBU) Prim 7 Stars's Atlantic Shrimpers Ltd. is 
undeniably Nigeria's largest shrimp company with an active 
fleet of 69 boats (the next largest is Banarly with 24 
boats).  Managing Director Manjit Sadarangani said Atlantic 
is the only company that produces enough product to fill a 
container to export shrimp to the United States.  Since the 
U.S. shrimp import ban was lifted from Nigeria in January 
2007, Atlantic has exported 5-6 containers to the U.S., 
Sadarangani said.  Nigerian shrimp exports to the U.S. are 
low because the American market prefers more labor intensive 
products including head-off and peeled shrimp.  European 
 
LAGOS 00000664  002 OF 002 
 
 
markets, particularly in Portugal and Spain, do not require 
this additional processing.  Sadarangani admitted the 
Nigerian shrimp industry has come to accept turtle excluder 
device compliance, which is necessary to export shrimp to the 
U.S., because it gives them an edge in European markets where 
they can label their product "eco-friendly." 
 
------- 
Comment 
------- 
 
¶6.  (SBU) Pirate attacks on shrimp trawling vessels have 
plagued the industry over the past several years.  It is not 
surprising that the Nigerian Navy is aware of these attacks 
but has done little in response.  Militancy in the Niger 
Delta has caused the Navy to deploy more resources there, and 
it is not surprising that they are unable to curb attacks on 
shrimpers.  While Nigerian shrimp exports to the U.S. are 
minimal, U.S. TED compliance certification is viewed by the 
Federal Department of Fisheries, and increasingly the 
industry, as a desirable and prestigious label.  End Comment. 
HUTCHINSON