Thesis Abstract

Abstract
Artisanal fishing plays a crucial role in the livelihoods of millions of people worldwide, especially in developing countries. Despite its significance, artisanal fishing enterprises often face economic challenges that impact their sustainability and profitability. This research project aims to conduct a detailed economic analysis of artisanal fishing enterprises to better understand the factors influencing their financial performance and to identify potential strategies for improving their economic viability. The study will involve collecting primary data through surveys and interviews with artisanal fishers and fishery managers in selected regions. Key economic indicators such as revenue, costs, profits, and investment patterns will be examined to assess the overall financial health of these enterprises. Additionally, factors such as market dynamics, government policies, access to finance, and technological capabilities will be considered to understand their impact on the economic performance of artisanal fishing operations. Through the analysis of the collected data, this research seeks to uncover the specific challenges faced by artisanal fishing enterprises, including fluctuating fish prices, competition from industrial fisheries, and limited access to markets. By identifying these challenges, the study aims to develop tailored strategies to enhance the economic resilience of artisanal fishing enterprises and improve their long-term sustainability. Furthermore, the research project will explore the potential for diversification within artisanal fishing operations, such as value-added processing, direct marketing, and eco-tourism activities. These alternative income streams could help reduce the reliance of artisanal fishers on volatile fish prices and provide additional sources of revenue to support their livelihoods. In conclusion, the economic analysis of artisanal fishing enterprises is essential for understanding the financial dynamics of these operations and for developing targeted interventions to support their sustainability. By identifying the key economic drivers and constraints faced by artisanal fishers, this research project aims to contribute valuable insights to policymakers, fisheries managers, and development practitioners seeking to promote the economic well-being of artisanal fishing communities. Ultimately, the findings of this study have the potential to inform evidence-based policies and initiatives aimed at enhancing the economic resilience and livelihoods of artisanal fishers around the world.

Thesis Overview

INTRODUCTION

One of the major roles played by fisheries in the economy of Nigeria is its contribution to the dietary needs of the populace. Increased food production, both in quantity and quality is necessary to build a healthy nation. Animal protein is essential for proper growth, repair and maintenance of body organs and tissues (Moses, 1983). Proteins obtained from livestock such as cattle, pigs, sheep, goats and poultry in tropical regions are generally very expensive. Fish protein contains the essential amino acids such as methionine, lysine, tryptophan which are absent in proteins of plant origin (Lawal, 2002). Fish oil contains unsaturated fatty acids, which are low in cholesterol, and thus a regular intake of fish oil harbours lower risk of heart attack, which might result from deposition of cholesterol in blood vessels. According to Madu (2000), fish is eaten all over the world and no religious or cultural restrictions are known to forbid its consumption.

Lawal (2002) reported that about 35 percent of the world’s fish catch is used for the production of fishmeal and oil. The greatest amount of the products is fed to poultry. Fishmeal product has high protein content (60-75%), making it a valued ingredient usually commanding a higher price than any other protein concentrate except milk powder. Fish oil is a valuable raw material for hydrogenation and is used in direct human consumption as margarine. Most of the world’s fishmeal is made from pelagic species, rich in oil. Nigeria generates about 10 million US dollars annually in foreign exchange through the exportation of shrimps (Mabawonku, 1986). Apart from the dietary use, production of livestock feeds and earnings of foreign exchange, fisheries offer direct and indirect employment opportunities to the people of the country (Asaku, 1997). Direct employment from fisheries involves those who are directly engaged in fish production, processing and marketing. Fisheries offer indirect employment to people who are engaged in the production of fishing inputs and fishing vessels, floats, sinkers, nets, lanterns, matchets and fish finders. Others indirectly employed in fishery industry include fish canners, owners of restaurants and manufacturers of livestock feeds.

The demand for fish has been rising rapidly in Nigeria as a result of increase in population, per capita income and price of alternative sources of animal protein. However the domestic supply of fish does not satisfy the demand. Attempts to meet the demand have seen the country resorting to importation of fish. The projected demand for fish in Nigeria in the year 2000 was 2,542 million tones. This figure rose to about 2854.6 million tones, an increase of about 12.3 percent in 2003 (FAO, 2004). This figure when compared with total fish supply will clearly show that there is fish demand-supply deficit in the country.

Many countries both import and export fish products. Trade tends to flow not only from less developed to more developed countries, but also between developed countries (FAO, 2004). In terms of export value, the total world trade of fish and fish products reached US $ 58.2 billion in 2002 (FAO, 2004). In terms of quantity, developed countries imported over 32 million tones in 2002, of which 68 percent was for human consumption (FAO, 2004). Imports for developed countries stood at 19 million tonnes, of which 47 percent consisted of fish for food.

The total quantity of international trade of fishery commodity by Nigeria as released by FAO reports (2000 and 2004) for the years 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2994 showed that imports of fishery products for the years amounted to 412,498, 442,331, 464,519, 646,557 and 814,461 tonnes respectively. This is in comparism with the export figure of 3,232, 656, 4,233, 249 and 12,016 tonnes for year 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000 and 2004 respectively (Table 1.1).

Table 1.1: Total quantity of annual trade of fishery commodity by

Nigeria (Metric tonnes)

YearImportsExports1997412,4983,2321998442,3316561999464,5194,2332000646,5572492004814,46112,016

Source: FAO Reports 2000 and 2004

 

In Nigeria, the artisanal fishery is made up of coastal canoe fishery, brackish water canoe fishery, riverine and lake canoe fishery and the flood pond fishery (Asaku, 1997). Mabawonku (1986) reported that artisanal fishery sector accounts for about 87 per cent of the total fish production in Nigeria. In Benue State, Asaku (1997) reported that the bulk of the fish supply come from fresh water systems. This bulk amounts to 98 percent while the remaining 2 percent is from culture fishery and imported frozen fish.

 

The fisheries sector, despite being an important source of livelihood for the majority of riverine households, has been plagued by a number of problems. These include, poor and inefficient fishing gears, lack of capital, poor fisheries management, poor handling facilities, poor infrastructure and high post harvest losses (Semesi et’al, 1998). Together with lack of alternative employment opportunities and increased number of fishing households, the above mentioned problems have been the main cause of decrease in fish catch as well as degradation of fish stock and over exploitation. As a result most households will continue to be trapped in poverty. The main challenge for the growth of artisanal fisheries is how to improve production performance while at the same time, ensuring sustainable level of fisheries resources. Various initiatives have been undertaken by international organizations, governmental and non-governmental organizations in order to ensure that fishing activities bring about economic, social and nutritional benefits (Allison and Ellis, 2001). However, these initiatives did not consider the importance of artisanal households socio-economic characteristics and behaviour in their decision making process.

Project ivity in artisanal fishing depends on the fishing households socio-economic characteristics, technology, assets endowments (physical, financial, human and social), and available infrastructure (Gaertner et al, 1999; Salas, 2000). Although, the literature suggests a number of explanations to this phenomenon, there have been scanty empirical studies to validate these in the study area. Empirical evidence is very important in order to identify the factors that limit the productivity of artisanal fishing households so that policies can be designed to enhance profitability of the enterprise based on recent and reliable information.       Therefore, measurement and analysis of artisanal fishing households performance become important.

This work therefore, measures the performance of artisanal fishing households in fishing villages of Guma LGA. The work applies a production function model to determine the effect of socio-economic characteristics and fishing inputs on output of artisanal fishers

 

The broad objective of the study is economic analysis of artisanal fishing enterprise in Guma Local Government Area of Benue State.

The specific objectives are to:

1. describe the socio economic characteristics of artisanal fishers in the study area;
2. identify and describe major artisanal fishing practices in the study area;

• determine the profitability of artisanal fishing in the study area;

1. determine the effect of socio-economic variables and fishing inputs on output of artisanal fishing in the study area;
2. identify the constraints to the full exploitation of the potentials associated with the natural fishing sites in the study area;
3. make recommendations on the ways to improve and promote artisanal fishing in the study area.

 

Based on the research objectives, the following hypothesis will be tested:

1)        HO: Socio-economic variables have no significant effect on the output of fishermen.

H1: Socio economic variables have significant effect on the output of fishermen.

2)        HO: Fishing inputs have no significant effect on the output of artisanal fishers.

                        H1: Fishing inputs have significant effect on the output of artisanal fishers.

 

• Justification of the Study

To conserve the country’s foreign exchange earnings, there is need to vastly reduce the share of food imports especially those that can be produced locally. Supply expansion programmes on fishery can be carried out in consideration of the abundant fishery resources all over the country. The large amount of foreign exchange hitherto spent yearly on importation of fish will be invested in other equally viable and competing demands of the nation. A transformed rural fishing programme will not only help improve the dwindling internal revenue generation of the third tier of government but will also improve the socio economic status of fishermen in the fishing communities of the study area and eradicate poverty.

Very few formal publications have been identified that specifically focus on economic and financial performance of artisanal fishing enterprises in Benue State. Several studies by Lawal (2002), Asaku (1997) and Imande (1994) concentrated on Aquaculture leaving out the least expensive but naturally endowed artisanal fishery sub sector, which is more popular among the rural people.