CHAPTER ONE
INTRODUCTION
1.1 BACKGROUND TO THE STUDY
Coastal
indigenous fishing communities have close economic, social and cultural
linkages with marine ecosystems that are vital for maintaining their food
security and cultural heritage (Durand, 2003). Like other small-scale
fisheries, they are vulnerable to global changes, including those related to
climate. Little is known, however, about the impacts and influence of climate
change on indigenous fishing management. This represents a significant global
issue, as indigenous groups are often the most vulnerable coastal communities.
This research aims to help fill this knowledge gap by providing a global
overview of development and management of indigenous fisheries in Nigeria.
It
has been estimated that most of the world's major indigenous fisheries are now
at their maximum level of exploitation (FAO, 1995). Furthermore, Welcomme and
Bartley (1997) have indicated that catches from indigenous fisheries are in
decline due to the deteriorating quality of the aquatic environment and poor
management. FAO (1995) has also identified, that in response to this crisis,
there has been an increase in the level of fishery interventions, including
various enhancements, as defined by the following statement: “Any increase of
the yields from indigenous fisheries will in future be derived from fisheries
enhancement activities and the effects of direct human intervention in the
production processes of aquatic environments”.
The
indigenous systems of fisheries management in Nigeria have originated within
the communities concerned, and conform with the definition of “indigenous”
provided by Berkes and Farvar (1989), i.e. practices which have historical
continuity among a group of people. Under the indigenous system, the fisheries
can also be classed as common property resources in that use-rights for the
resource are controlled by an identifiable group (e.g. local community who may
exclude others) and are not managed by government of the modern state. As
explained in Neiland et al. (1997), the objectives of the indigenous fisheries systems
in Nigeria are not easy to ascertain. However, three objectives have been
identified, including the control of fishing rights and reduction of conflict,
generation of food/income for the community, and conservation of fish stocks.
The main method of management is the control of access, and the decision-making
authorities are the leaders of the community and traditional government,
although all users can have an input into the process (“bottom-up” approach),
under certain circumstances.
The major indigenous method of fishery in
Nigeria is the artisanal fishery. The Coastal artisanal fishery sector of
Nigeria is scattered among numerous large and small fishing settlements along
the 960km. coastline of Nigeria with its extensive coastal lagoons. Majority of
these settlements are characterized by their remoteness and are cut off from
the main national roadway system which have to be approached by boats and by
trekking several kilometers from the nearest road-head (Cunningham et al, 2005).
The coastal artisanal fishermen number
approximately 250,000 and operate about 50,000 traditional wooden canoes of
various sizes - a small percentage of which approximately 4,000 are fitted with
cut-board motors of different manufacturers. Fishing gear used from these
canoes comprise mainly of set-gill nets, beach seines, long line, basket traps,
cast nets etc. This indigenous fishery as being practiced now is labour
intensive and because of the limited capabilities of the craft and gear results
in low productivity. Their operating range is generally around the 20m depth
contour, with operations sometimes extending up to a maximum depth of 40 metres
(Cunningham et al, 2005).
Yet in view of the large number of craft
and gear involved, this sector has recorded a production of nearly 270,000 tons
of fish in 2005 which is nearly 50% of the
total fish catch of Nigeria and which shows a probable 35% increase in the
catch during the decade. About 95% of the catches of the coastal fishermen are
normally smoked and the limited quantities which are sold fresh are mostly
consumed within a range of 25 Km, from the coast. These fishes are handled by
traditional marketing channels that are dominated by fish mammies who are most
often wives or mothers of fishermen (Cunningham et al, 2005).
A recent desk study of the Fishery sector
in Nigeria prepared by the Investment Centre of the FAO/World Bank Cooperative
programme at the request of the World Bank has concluded that "the
principal developments which would lead to an expansion of landings would
probably be restricted to providing more effective means of fishing, handling,
processing and distribution of catches and the provision of adequate services
in the indigenous small scale fishery sector. An improvement in this sector
would provide the most immediate and productive returns as compared with the
other sectors".
1.2 STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
The constraints to the development and
management of the indigenous fishery sector in Nigeria were well identified
when the country's National Development Plan was drawn up and they includes lack
of modern fishing inputs by way of improved fishing craft, gear and methods, lack
of access feeder roads or canals from the nearest road-head, lack of proper
service facilities at the village sites, loss of product due to lack of
facilities for proper handling, processing, transport and marketing, shortage
of trained manpower, and lack of effective fisherman organizations.
Several efforts has been made by the
government of Nigeria through National Development Plans to manage and develop
the sector properly while laying emphasis on increased fish production with a
view to attaining the goal of self-sufficiency in fish
production and also aims at encouraging local manufacture of fish products,
which are being imported now, providing employment to young school leavers and
increasing the per capita income of the fisherman to enable him improve his life
style.
1.3 OBJECTIVES OF THE STUDY
The
following are the objectives of this study:
1. To
examine the state of the indigenous fisheries sector in Nigeria.
2. To
determine ways to develop the indigenous fisheries sector in Nigeria.
3. To
identify ways to achieve proper management of the indigenous fisheries sector
in Nigeria.
1.4 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
1. What
is the state of the indigenous fisheries sector in Nigeria?
2. What
are ways to develop the indigenous fisheries sector in Nigeria?
3. What
are the ways to achieve proper management of the indigenous fisheries sector in
Nigeria?
1.6 SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
The
following are the significance of this study:
1. The
outcome of this study will educate the stakeholders in agriculture sector and
the general public on the state of the indigenous fisheries sector in Nigeria
with emphasis on ways to develop it and ensure the effective management of the
sector.
2. This
research will be a contribution to the body of literature in the area of the
effect of personality trait on student’s academic performance, thereby
constituting the empirical literature for future research in the subject area
1.7 SCOPE/LIMITATIONS OF THE STUDY
This
study will cover the present state of the indigenous fisheries sector in
Nigeria and ways to develop and manage the sector effectively.
LIMITATION OF STUDY
Financial constraint- Insufficient fund tends to impede the efficiency of the
researcher in sourcing for the relevant materials, literature or information
and in the process of data collection (internet, questionnaire and interview).
Time constraint- The researcher will
simultaneously engage in this study with other academic work. This consequently
will cut down on the time devoted for the research work.