Traditional fishing communities along the coastline of Ibeju-Lekki LGA are sounding alarm over a sharp and sustained decline in fish catch over the past two years that many attribute to construction-related disturbance of marine ecosystems, dredging activities, and increased water turbidity in their fishing grounds. Fishermen from several communities say the catch has dropped by more than half compared to what they recorded four years ago, and that certain species that were once common have virtually disappeared from their nets. A fisherman who has worked the waters for over thirty years said he had never seen conditions this bad. The fishing communities have requested a formal meeting with the Ibeju-Lekki LGA, the developers of the free trade zone, and state environmental officials to discuss compensation and mitigation measures. Marine biologists from a Lagos university have offered to assist the community in documenting the environmental impact for official submission.
