Factors Constraining Artisanal Fish Production in the Fishing Communities of Ibeju-Lekki Local Government Area of Lagos State

Abstract:

Artisanal fishing has continually dominated Nigeria’s domestic fish production even though it is constrained by amongst others, crude and energy consuming methods of operation. Ibeju-Lekki is located about 65 kilometers from the city of Lagos where high demand for fish and fisheries products could be assumed to drive local fish production, especially the commercially important species such as sardinella sp, sphyraena piscatorum sp, pseudotolithus sp, arius heudeloti sp , penaeus, sp etcetera. The study showed that motorized canoes have become a major fishing input. While the least horsepower (HP) outboard engine (OBE) 15 HP cost as much as =N=300,000, the least cost for a new fishing canoe was =N=65,000 and for adequate fishing operation, a fisher requires a minimum bundle of net estimated at about =N=100,000. The all-male fishers characteristic of the area is due to the heavy beach waves that makes both setting out and landing a herculean task. The fishers operated on full time, maintain relatively moderate family sizes and gradually embracing western education as more children were being enrolled in higher schools. Basically, major constraints to fishing were fuelled by poor capital disposition of fishers, lack of government enabling environment and trawlers’ encroachment. An assessment of these constraints provides useful information on the ways to improve artisanal fisheries for sustainability, and hence providing the basis for solving major social and economic problems.