Socio-Economic Assessment of Fisherfolks in Anaku Community, Ayamelum Local Government Area of Anambra State, Nigeria: A Base for Potential Aquaculture Development
Abstract
The study was designed to examine the socioeconomic development of the fisher folks as abase for potential aquaculture development in Anaku community, Ayamelum Local Government Area, Anambra State, Nigeria. Eighty (80) structured questionnaires were used to collect relevant information from the fisher folks. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple percentage and Chi square. Results obtained revealed that there is a significant relationship (P<0.05) between the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and fishing activities. 82.5% of the respondents were males who engaged in fishing activities while 17.5% were females engaging in fish processing and trading, both of whom were mostly within the age bracket of 24-40 years (40.00%). 86.25% of the respondents were married and family size of 5-8 persons recorded the highest value (51.25%). This study also revealed that all the respondents used natural water bodies for fishing activities, 58.75% of the respondents practiced fishing as their only source of income while 50% of the respondents used local fishing gears. Majority of the fisherfolks had no formal education (55.00%) while 45.00% had one form of education or the other. Although a higher percentage of the fisherfolks (56.25%) were engaged in fishing activities as their primary occupation than crop farming, average monthly income of the fisherfolks in Anaku community showed that a monthly income of N50,000 had the highest frequency (41.25%). Hence, the study postulates that there is high possibility for the development of aquaculture in Anaku fishing community and recommends government support for full harnessing of fishery resources from Anaku community.
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Introduction
Aquaculture continues to grow rapidly every day, and production is increasing so as to meet the ever-increasing demand for aquatic foods. Understanding the basic part behind aquatic production facilities is of increasing importance for all those working in this industry (FAO, 2010). Aquaculture requires knowledge and skills of the many general aspects of production such as spawning, production of feeds, water quality management etc (Anderson, 2004). Fisheries constitute an important sector in Nigerian agriculture, providing valuable food and employment to millions and also serving as a source of livelihoods mainly for women in coastal communities, in view of the ever-increasing importance offish as a source of good quality animal protein in Nigeria (Nwuba et al., 2009).
Aquaculture according to Ayinla (2012) is the fastest growing food producing industry in the world which has quadrupled over the past twenty years. Aquaculture production is likely to double in the next fifteen years, as a result of wild fisheries approaching their biological limits and the world demand for cultured fish continuing to increase. Production from world capture fisheries has leveled off and most of the fishing areas have reached their maximum potential yield (FAO, 2010a). It is estimated that in order to maintain the current level of per capita consumption, global aquaculture production will need to reach 80 million tonnes by 2050. Aquaculture has the potential to address the projection offish demand, but will face enormous challenges to achieve this goal (FAO, 2010a). Currently, domestic fish production is put at 620,000 metric tons as against the present national demand of about 2.66 million metric tons (Ayinla, 2012).
The major animal protein sources in Nigeria include cattle, goats, sheep, poultry birds, pigs and fish. Out of these sources, fish and fish products provide more than 60% of the total protein intake in adults especially in the rural areas Adekoya and Miller, 2004). Therefore, the importance of the fishing industry to the sustainability of animal protein supply in Nigeria cannot be over-emphasized. Regrettably, the supply of food fish has been on the decline. This is due to consistent decline from the country’smajor source of food fish (Gupta and Acosta, 2011).
Nigeria as a nation is endowed with good natural resources which can enhance aquaculture development to a greater extent, however aquaculture production in Sub-Saharan Africa is limited despite its natural potential (FAO, 2010a). There is high possibility for the development of aquaculture in the continent, which can be done through intensive use of the abundant inland water and coastal areas. Although aquaculture may be the new frontier for producing fish, wild capture fisheries remain significant for overall supply (Allison et al., 2011). In order to achieve this milestone, Africa continent will need to address the existing constraints, such as: inadequate knowledge on aquaculture among farmers, low allocations for aquaculture development in national budget, poor or slow growth of cultured species; poor broodstock management; and poor species identification (FAO, 2010a).
It has been asserted by Ugwumba (2005) that the only way of boosting fish production is by moving the country towards sufficiency in fish production and embarking on aquaculture production especially catfish farming. This has prompted the Federal Government of Nigeria to package the Presidential Initiative on fisheries and aquaculture development in 2003 to provide financial and technical assistance to government programmes and projects encouraging fish production. According to Adekoya and Miller (2004) an inventory offish farms has been completed in all the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) with a total of 2,293 fish farms in the country. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the potentials of aquaculture development in Anaku fishing community through the socio-economic characteristics of the fisher folks and the fishing activities practiced in the study area.
Conclusion
The potential to develop the aquaculture industry and substantially increase fish production and economic growth exists in Anaku community. This study revealed that there is a significant relationship (P<0.05) between the socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents and fishing activities. Anaku fishing community showed a high prospect in artisanal fisheries but was constrained by several factors notably high cost of fishing inputs such as motorized boats, insufficient capital and storage problems. Technology undertaken for cage culture in their water bodies may be adapted to suit local conditions.
In order to develop aquaculture production in Anaku fishing community, it is recommended that fisheries extension officers should be sent to engage the community on several aquaculture training programs so as to enlighten the people on the potentials of aquaculture in their community and similar rural communities. Considering the low catches made by the fisherfolks from the Omambala river during rainy seasons, fishes and other aquatic organisms, through aquaculture can be used to restock the river, as this will increase both the biomass and biodiversity of the river, thereby, increasing the culture and capture fisheries development. This study also recommended that basic amenities and modern fishing facilities such as cold storage facilities, modern fish handling and processing facilities, motorized boats and gears should be provided to the fisherfolks to increase fish production. Further study should be carried out on suitability of the river in Anaku community for aquaculture purposes.