About

Donatus Ozowara was born and raised in the coastal town of Warri, the son of fishermen from the riverine communities of Delta State. A man of many talents but a singular passion, Donatus was never happier than when he was out on the water, fishing. Growing up by the sea, his son Daniel Ozowara had little else to do other than spending time with his father on their fishing boat, and the young boy took to it naturally. As a teenager, Daniel became a popular crewman, quickly earning enough to buy his own fishing vessel.

At the age of 14, Adepoju Victor left his small village in Ogun State, drawn by the allure of Lagos and the sea. He soon found himself working on fishing boats, learning the trade while developing a deep love for the ocean. Adepoju raised two children who shared his passion for fishing. His eldest, Harriette Ozowara, used the income from fishing to fund her education, which led her to a career outside the industry. However, when she inherited her father’s boat, she decided to keep it and now spends her holidays fishing the Nigerian coastline with her family.

Donatus and Adepoju not only shared a love for the ocean but were also deeply concerned about the dangers of irresponsible fishing. They saw the growing threat of large-scale, industrial fishing operations that posed a danger to the sustainability of Nigeria’s coastal fisheries and the livelihoods of communities that depended on them.

In 2008, after successfully transitioning out of a corporate career, I felt compelled to act. Along with my good friend and fellow fisherman, Adepoju Victor, we founded Ocean Groom Sea Foods with two key objectives. First, we wanted to create a supply chain for ourselves and our fishing colleagues that would deliver the highest-quality, sustainably harvested seafood to consumers with minimal handling and the shortest time from sea to table. Second, we wanted to raise awareness about the urgent need for sustainable fishing practices in Nigeria and around the world, to counter the damaging effects of industrial overfishing.

It’s been a privilege to serve on various industry committees and use my platform to advocate for greater political support for sustainable fishing practices in Nigeria. We also realized the importance of engaging our communities in this conversation, and one of the best ways to do that is by providing real, naturally harvested seafood so people can taste the difference. The last thing we want is for future generations to look back and wonder why they’ve been deprived of the rich traditions we enjoyed—such as sharing freshly caught, grilled croaker with loved ones on a warm evening. Preserving that experience for future generations is at the heart of what we do.

Best regards,
Donatus Ozowara
Co-founder & CEO
@oceangroomseafoods.com – the best way to reach me.