Artisanal Fishers’ Use of Sustainable Fisheries Management Practices in the Jebba Lake Basin, Nigeria

Abstract

The study attempts to characterise artisanal fishers’ use of sustainable fisheries management practices in the Jebba Lake Basin, Nigeria. Stratified sampling technique was used to select 402 respondents. Data were collected using semistructured interview schedule. Data were analysed using frequency counts, percentages, mean and standard deviation. The result showed fishing in the study area was dominated by male fishers (97.0%) with the mean age of 43 years. Attitude of fishers’ towards formal fishing regulations were below average (mean=3.00). Over half (57%) of the respondents never used any sustainable fishing practices, while only 39.1% used only one form of sustainable fishing practice. About 60% and 50% of the respondents reported using gill net and hook and line, respectively. The study recommended that artisanal fishers should be strengthened as key stakeholders in fisheries policy formulation, implementation and evaluation. This will entrust commitment and ownership on the part of the fishers towards the realization of fisheries policy objectives.