Techno-economic considerations of shark driftnet fishery, off Lagos coast, Nigeria

Experimental fishing operations with driftnets were conducted in Lagos coastal waters with a view to finding out appropriate gear for effective exploitation of sharks and other pelagic fish species that are not normally caught in trawls. The design and fabrication of the driftnets as well as the fishing trials were undertaken between May, 1977 and April, 1978. Six baited driftnet sets of equal panels with three stretched mesh sizes of 190.5mm; 228.6mm and 241.3mm were used. Analysis were carried out on species composition of catches, weight and number of species/group of fish, catch efficiency of the driftnets as well as on operating costs and financial returns

The power of fish trader associations in the marketing of fish in Lagos State

This paper focusses on the activities of trade associations in the marketing of fish in Lagos State. The study covers 6 different markets in Lagos State of Nigeria. Analysis indicates that 86% of the traders are members of the associations. The ages of the traders range from 21 to over 55 years. However, majority are between the ages of 31 and 45 years. Traders secure their initial capital mostly from trade associations and Esusu/Ajo. Most traders have no working capital to maintain a regular series of outlets, so wholesalers turn to associations for funds, while retailers turn to wholesalers. They eventually pay back when they sell to consumers. The fish industry is found to be imperfectly competitive mostly because of the actions of fish trader associations. The fish marketing system is highly personalised and loyality exists between wholesalers and retailers and their customers

The role of women in marketing of frozen fish in Lagos State of Nigeria

The involvement of women in the marketing of frozen fish in Lagos State (Nigeria) was examined in this study. Two hundred questionnaires were administered to fish marketers in five markets randomly selected within the Lagos metropolis based on their storage capacities. These markets were Balogun (500 tones), Idumagbo and Idumota (250 tonnes each) Obalende and Epetedo (37.5 tonnes each). From the study results, a greater percentage of women (64.2%) are actively involved in marketing of frozen fish in the study areas. Over 56% of these traders are retailers while about 33% are wholesalers. More than 91% of the marketers were found to be literate. A high percentage of the frozen fish are imported (68%), 27% from coastal fishing and 5% from riverine fishing. The commonest fish in the markets were titus (34%), sardine (32%), hake 19%, catfish 10% and argentine 5%. Catfish has the highest profit margin. The greatest problem of these traders is the lack of modern storage facilities and where available, the erratic power supply constitutes a problem

Aspects of the biology of the lagoon crab Callinectes amnicola (Derocheburne) in Badagry, Lagos and Lekki lagoons, Nigeria

A preliminary report of the size, composition, growth pattern and food habits of the blue crab, Callinectes amnicola, (De Rocheburne) in the Badagry, Lagos and Lekki Lagoons (Nigeria) is presented. The collection of crabs from the three lagoons covered the period from May 1999 to October 2000. The carapace length for Badagry Lagoon ranged from 2.2 cm to 16.4 cm with weight of 4.4 g to 252.6 g. The crabs showed a unimodal size distribution. For the Lagos Lagoon, crabs sizes ranged from 3.5 cm to 16.8 cm and weighed 3.28 to 277.1 g. The sizes of crabs in the Lekki Lagoon ranged from 3.5 cm to 16.1 cm and weighed 3.5 g to 262.7 g. Crabs from the three lagoons exhibited negative allometric growth. The food items were similar in the three lagoons and comprised mainly mollusc shells, fish parts, shrimps and crab appendages and occasionally higher plant materials

Productivity estimation of Ologe Lagoon, Lagos

One of the paradigms in the management of fish resources is that annual yield is a function of water quality. Consequently, the use of shorthand methods for predicting yields from morphological and /or edaphic factors of the water body are most appropriate for tropical multi-species fisheries. In this study, the morpho-edaphic index (MEI) was used to estimate the productivity of Ologe lagoon (Nigeria). The predicted yield was 73.8 kg ha super(-1) yr super(-1) and a comparison with yields in other African waters showed that Ologe lagoon is highly productive. However, its potential is not fully harnessed due to the traditional nature of the fishing

A study of women's participation in fish food security and poverty alleviation in Lagos and Ogun States

Women, all over the world have contributed in various ways to the social, political and economic development of the Society. In fact, the World Resource Institute recognizes that "women have profound and preserve effect onn the well-being of their families, communities and local ecosystems" (Gamble and Well 1997:211). Women constitute more than 50 percent of the Agricultural (Fisheries being a sub sector), labour force. A study on Women in Fisheries showed that they participate in all aspects of the sector (capture, culture, processing, marketing research, training and Extension services). This paper reports the result of the study on women's contributions in the development of the Fisheries Industry particularly their roles in Fish Food Security, Poverty Alleviation and high rates of women's adoption of Fisheries technologies. The Case-study research methodology is used to study the "How" and "Why" Women's Contribution in Fish Food Security and Poverty Alleviation is at the index level recorded for the gender. The study made use of "Case Study" Research Instrument; documents, interview, artefacts, direct observation and archival records. The sampling techniques were purposive for research audiences and simple random for fisher-folks in the chosen locations. Analysed data showed among others that in Fisheries Research women occupy very important positions as Heads of Division/Section, Fisheries Liasion/Extension Officers and Fisheries Laboratory Chiefs etc. The paper also gave results of women production, processing, marketing and other services statistics; it also discusses the "whys" of women's low capacity in fisheries development of the nation and finally suggested ways in improving women's optimal capacity utilization in fisheries development

A survey of fisherfolk involved in artisanal fisheries in some selected areas of Ikorodu in Lagos State

The study focused on men and women involved in artisanal fisheries in some selected areas of Ikorodu Local government in Lagos State. The random sampling technique was used to select 50 fishermen each at Ibeshe and Baiyeku sites. The results revealed that majority of the fishermen were male, christian, semi-illiterate, and married. Data were collected on capital sources, labour used, income, gear techniques and type of fish caught. Analysis showed that the highest sources of capital were from personal savings (50%). Majority of labour used were hired labour, 44% at Ibeshe and 50% at Baiyeku. Highest monthly income ranged between N10, 000 - N25, 000 at both sites. Planks were mostly used at both sites for fishing boats as well as means of transport (Ibeshe 68%, Baiyeku 72%). Common fishing gear was the gill net, The fishes caught were found to be of various tyupes. Ethalmalosa fimbriata constituted the highest fish species caught by weight and number at both sites (50%). However, the problems of capital source were most peculiar coupled with high cost of fishing materials and labour scarcity

An overview of the challenges and prospects in developing an aquaculture industry in Lagos State, Nigeria

Macroeconomic growth and the development of sustainable business activities are interrelated. In Lagos State, aquaculture is a marginal economic activity thriving mainly on a semi-intensive level. Notwithstanding the available potentials for the development of successful commercial aquaculture enterprises in the state, the transformation to a full-flagged industry continues to be undetermined by certain critical factors. Feasible development strategies may be sought in increasing all stakeholders' capacity in the formulation of policies, plans and regulations, a complete separation of aquaculture from the capture fisheries in administrative structure and policy; the adoption of precautionary approach; provision of economic incentives to enhance private investments and increase output,respectively

Morphometric, meristics and comparative studies of Chrysichthys nigrodigititus (Lacepede) from Lagos Lekki and Badagry Lagoons, Lagos State, south west Nigeria

Morphometric measurements, meristic counts and comparative studies of Chrysicthys nigrodigitatus samples from Lagos, Lekki, and Badagry Lagoons was carried out to determine the amount of variation among the species from the different locations using seven meristic and two morphometric characters. Significant differences were observed only between the headlength (F==14.02; P<00.05), number of anal rays (F=19.9; P<0.05) and of gill raker counts (F=142.0, 160.94; P<0.05). The differences observed in the meristic characters could be attributed to environmental and climatic differences of the three isolated sites and therefore phenotypic rather than genetic. This study is valuable for the selection of quality strains of fish species for aquaculture production

Technical efficiency in artisanal fisheries (AF) in Badagry local government area of Lagos State, Nigeria

This study examined the technical efficiency in artisanal fisheries in Lagos State of Nigeria. The study employed a two stage random sampling procedure for the selection of 120 respondents. The analytical techniques involved descriptive statistics and estimation of technical efficiency following maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) procedure available in FRONTIER 4.1. The MLE result of the stochastic frontier production function showed that hired labour, cost of repair and capital items are critical factors that influences productivity of artisanal fishermen with the coefficient of hired labour being highly elastic. This implies that employing more labour will significantly increase the catch in the study area. The predicted farm efficiency with an average value of 0.92 showed that there is a marginal potential of about 8 percent to increase the catch, hence the income of the fishermen. The study further examined the factors that influence productivity of fishermen in the study area. Year of education, mode of operation and frequency of fishing have important implication on the technical efficiency of fishermen in the study area.

Mapas batimétricos y parámetros morfométricos de lagos patagónicos de Neuquén, de Río Negro y del Chubut (Argentina)

A limnological and fish survey program was developed on 112 lakes and reservoirs of Argentina during the summers of 1984 to 1987. Bathymetric surveys with a SIMRAD Skipper 411 model echosounder and line and lead were conducted on more than 40 lakes. This report presents bathymetric maps for seventeen lakes and reservoirs situated in Patagonian Andes Region and Patagonian Plateau betweem 38°53'S and 45°30'S. The bathymetric maps for two reservoirs were made from topographic maps before impoundment. Hypsographic and depth-area curves, and some morphometric parameters are presented for twenty one Patagonian lakes. Mean depth ranged from 2.0 to 111 m. The deepest lakes are situated in Patagonian Andes Region. Colhue Huapi Lake on Patagonian Plateau, is very shallow, having a mean depth of 2.0 m and being 810 km. in surface area.

A summary of the inventory survey of Nigeria inland waters and preliminary estimates of their fish yield potentials

A summary of the inventory survey of Nigeria inland waters is presented. The survey reveals that Kano State tops the list in reservoir development with an existing water surface area of about 42,773 ha, while Anambra State has the least with about 38 hectares. No reservoir was recorded for Lagos and Rivers States. However, in aspects of existing fish ponds, a total of about 471 ha was recorded for Plateau State and about 5 ha for Niger State. Preliminary estimates of Nigeria's fish yield potentials based on established production records of comparable water bodies in the tropics, at different levels of management, show that the available water mass in the country, estimated at about 12.5 million hectares, could yield a minimum of about 334,214 metric tonnes (m.t.) of fish per annum with little or no management and a maximum of about 511,703 metric tonnes per annum with adequate management. Comparison of the potential yields from inland sources with the projected fish production in Nigeria (1981-1985) based on supply and demand statistics shows that potential yield from inland sources even at a low level of management is relatively higher than the projected inland production and more than double the observed production. The variation between the potential and the observed fish yields in the country has been attributed to the absolute lack of management strategies for our various inland waters. The paper elaborates on possible management strategies for various categories of inland waters as a prelude towards increased fish production in the country

Relevance of the programmes of the federal fisheries schools to Nigeria's fishing industry

Nigeria's three federal fisheries schools are administered by three autonomous research institutes located in Lagos, New Bussa, and Maiduguri. The schools were established at different periods to train the required manpower for Nigeria's fishing industry which has remained predominantly artisanal since its inception in 1942 as a Second World War exigency. Despite the establishment of the schools, the industry's manpower is still being dominated by non-nationals especially in the capture fisheries sub-sector. The common features of the schools include the apparent insensitivity of their programmes to the industry's dynamic manpower needs; the absence of coordination of their programmes by a national body which would have ensured that the schools are able to communicate with one another and are willing to act and share a purpose. The need and the methodology for a change of emphasis from the on-going training of extension agents and officers to that of fishing operatives and technicians to enable Nigeria effectively harness her local fish resources towards self-sufficiency is highlighted.

The market for processed foodstuffs in Nigeria: The case of canned fish

This paper highlights the potential contribution of the processed food industry (especially with regard to prepared and preserved fish) to the domestic industrial sector. Data for the study were collected from a sample of 85 retail canned fish sellers in South-Western Nigeria (45 and 40 respondents in Oyo and Lagos states respectively). Approaches were also made to government officials and merchant-agents connected with the importation, trade-regulation and distribution of fish in Nigeria. The study examined, in considerable detail, the marketing channels, services, prices and margins of canned fish in the area of study. The paper concludes that efforts should be made to encourage local processing and canning of fish not only to save on foreign exchange and importation costs but also to be able to meet the rapidly growing demand for this product in the country