ABSTRACT
The study evaluated the ECOWAS fund accelerated artisanal
fish production project (EFAAFPP) in Delta State. Primary data for the study
were obtained through the use of interview schedule from 120 respondents of
artisanal fisher folks (AFFs) while secondary data were obtained from the
NACRDB office. Percentage, mean, t-test, chi-square statistics and factor
analysis were used in analyzing data. Majority (65.8%) of the respondents were
males and married (68.1%). Their mean age was 45.7 years.The study further
revealed that fibre glass canoes; canoes, outboard engines, synthetic fishing
nets, ice boxes, smoking kilns, floaters, sinkers, anchors, and fishing
accessories like knives, lanterns, and hooks were distributed at a total value
of N 97,635,200 to AFFs in Delta State by the NACRDB. Results of the
findings showed that the respondents have adopted the following technologies
disseminated by extension agents: synthetic fishing nets, smoking kilns, post
harvest processing technique, and mending synthetic nets.The identified coping
mechanisms used by AFFs during
poor harvest and off-season included small scale artisanal fishing ( X = 2.34); farming ( X = 2.26),
harvesting of crustaceans ( X =
2.00) and harvesting of bivalves ( X =
2.00). The programme had contributed to the standard of living of AFFs in terms
of an increase in their income, household materials possessed, and ease of
accessibility to modern fishing inputs. The study further revealed that there
was a significant association (Χ² = 68.5; P ≤ 0.05) between the different
household materials possessed by AFFs and their participation in the EFAAFPP. A
similar significant association (Χ² = 142.8; P ≤ 0.05) was observed between the
level of artisanal fishing skills acquired by AFFs and their participation in
the intervention. Also there was a significant association (Χ² = 123.4; P ≤
0.05) between the ease in accessibility to modern fishing inputs by the AFFs
and their participation in the programme. Finally a significant association (Χ²
= 116.6; P ≤ 0.05) was observed between the participation of AFFs and their
knowledge of searching for additional artisanal fishing technologies. The
identified major constraints to the effective performance of the EFAAFPP were
family problems, environmental problems and extraneous problems. It was
recommended that a community based management approach involving all key stakeholders
should be introduced in artisanal fishing communities in Delta State to
regulate the exploitation of fisheries resources for continued sustainability
of all participants who fish within these open waters.
CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background Information
Fishing contributes about 5% of
the value of agricultural output. It accounts for 20-25% of per capital animal
protein in-take, and employs about 8 million people. This makes it an important
element in Nigeria’s bid to reduce poverty (Central Bank Nigeria, 2004). In
many countries in the developing world, fish represents the single most vital
source of animal protein that is affordable by the common man and where ever
fish contributes to people’s diets, it provides essential micronutrients,
minerals and fatty acids. Fish oils contains Omega-3-fatty acids which have
been found to prevent a lot of diseases in humans and are also essential
components of cell membrane in infants (Mercola, 2000).
The fishing sector’s
contribution to foreign exchange earnings from fish, and shrimps amounted to
US$ 50.0 million in 2003 but nonetheless; there was a deficit in the supply of
fish and fishery products which was met by importation of US$ 403.5 million
dollars worth of fish in the same year (Central Bank Nigeria, 2004).The Food
and Agricultural Organization (FAO) reported that global import and export
trade in fish and fish products was 61 billion US$ and 55 billion US$,
respectively, in 2004, making fish an important commodity in international
trade for both developed and developing countries globally (FAO, 2004). The FAO
also categorized fishing types as artisanal fishing, aquaculture and industrial
fishing (FAO, 2004). Artisanal fishing is small scale fishing and
An annual field survey by the
Federal Department of Fisheries (FDF, 2007) reported that the bulk of fish
supply in Nigeria comes from the artisanal fishing sub sector. Both coastal and
inland fishing activities supplied the highest volume of fish with an average
of 356,200 metric tons caught yearly. There are about 264,601 people on the
average that are fully employed in artisanal fishing which makes it an
important productive sector of the Nigeria economy. The Federal Ministry of
Agriculture and Natural Resources (FMANR) Department of Fisheries Statistical
Data (Table 1) shows the estimated catches in the fishery sector from 2000-2007
and it can be seen that the artisanal fishing sub-sector (artisanal coastal
brackish waters and artisanal inland rivers/lakes) accounted for highest
catches in all the years when compared to fish farming, industrial fishing and
distant water fishing sub-sectors (FDF, 2007).
Fisheries extension activities
include gear and net size regulations, provision of information on sources of
inputs like out-board engines, fibre glass boats, nylon nets, and improved
smoking kilns for processing fish. Others include education on the migration
patterns of some targeted pelagic fishes hunted by Artisanal Fisher Folks
(AFFs), fish pond construction, fish feed formulation and composition,
fisheries management practices and aquaculture for increase protein
availability to AFFs. Extension information is also provided on livelihood
enhancement activities in fishing enterprises, sustainability of fisheries
resources, and other ancillary businesses or enterprises in fishing communities
(Economic Community of West African States; 2006).....
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Item Type: Postgraduate Material | Attribute: 83 pages | Chapters: 1-5
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