By Mashe Umaru Gwamna
The Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP), said all hands are on deck towards restoring bloody cockles in the creeks of Ogoni.
The Project Coordinator of HYPREP, Professor Nenibarini Zabbey, stated this yesterday, when he visited the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research, Buguma, Asari Toru LGA, where the Project is funding a research to carry out the culturing of the bloody cockles.
He said this is part of efforts to restore ecosystem goods and services through the ongoing shoreline remediation and mangrove restoration projects.
“Bloody cockle (Senilla senilis) are bivalve molluscs commonly found in muddy areas in the intertidal zone and are vital for sustaining the economy and livelihood of people living around coastal communities. Bloody cockle has a high nutritional value as it is a complete source of protein and contains high levels of essential amino acids (85-95%).
“Due to the spills in Ogoni and other human factors, cockles have become critically endangered and have been completely wiped out in most of its shoreline areas.”
He said HYPREP aims to restore bloody cockles by artificially propagating them in the lab and reintroducing them to the Ogoni shoreline.
“Understanding the species’ reproductive biology is essential to determining the renewal capacity of natural stocks.”
Prof Zabbey said the initiative is in line with HYPREP’s mandate to restoring the environment, including keystone species like the bloody cockle, oyster and other seafood in Ogoni creeks.
He mentioned that the specie of seafood has supported the livelihood of the people for centuries, particularly the women and children.
The PC explained that in restoring the environment, the Project is mostly interested in women and children, describing them (women) as drivers of the local economy and added that the gesture is a wholistic approach in the restoration of ecosystem goods and services in Ogoni postremediation. He argued that the adoption of culturing the bloody cockle at the moment is more sustainable given certain environmental conditions that could affect natural reproduction in large numbers as envisaged. He is optimistic that the effort will benefit both Ogoni, other coastal communities in the Niger Delta and beyond.
He expressed excitement at the early successes recorded in the research and said the visit was to encourage the team to sustain the efforts to restock the bloody cockle.
The PC donated his microscope and other lap items to enhance research at the centre.
The Institute reported that the initial laboratory cultures were successful, and HYPREP believes the restoration project will be successful.
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