Constraints to Artisanal Fishing in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

The study investigated the constraints to artisanal fishing in Eastern Obolo LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, administered on 90 fish farmers, who were selected through purposive random sampling technique from Educwink, Elekpon and Agan-asa fishing depots. Factor analysis was used to analyse the data, while the results were presented in table and charts. Socioeconomic (4.895), institutional/infrastructural (4.368), environmental (3.708), technological (3.063) and human (2.216) factors constrained artisanal fishing in the study. The socioeconomic constraints included lack of credit facilities (0.766), lack of capital (0.680), theft (0.620), high cost of transportation (0.581) and poor income (0.524), while the institutional/infrastructural constraints comprised market inaccessibility (0.695), lack of processing facilities (0.459) and lack of storage facilities (-0.432). Bad weather (0.578), oil spillage and pollution (0.536), and water plants infestation (0.473) were the environmental factors that constrained artisanal fishing. The technological constraints included poor boat-gear design (0.565) and use of obsolete fishing tools (-0.494), while poor maintenance of fishing equipment (0.642), overfishing (-0.471) and conflicts among fishermen (-0.461) characterized the human constraints. The study recommended policies that will enhance financial inclusion and increased access to credit facilities by artisanal fishermen. Also recommended, were policies that will enable the establishment of regulatory frameworks to artisanal fishing, and the provision of adequate infrastructural and processing facilities.

本研究旨在探究尼日利亚Akwa Ibom州Eastern Obolo地方政府区域（Local Government Area, LGA）手工捕鱼（artisanal fishing）的制约因素。研究采用结构化问卷（structured questionnaire）收集数据，问卷发放给从Educwink、Elekpon及Agan-asa三个渔港通过目的性随机抽样法（purposive random sampling technique）选取的90名渔民。采用因子分析（factor analysis）对数据进行分析，结果以表格和图表形式呈现。研究发现，社会经济因素（4.895）、制度/基础设施因素（4.368）、环境因素（3.708）、技术因素（3.063）及人为因素（2.216）是制约该区域手工捕鱼的主要因素。其中，社会经济制约因素包括信贷设施匮乏（0.766）、资金短缺（0.680）、盗窃（0.620）、运输成本高昂（0.581）及收入微薄（0.524）；制度/基础设施制约因素涵盖市场可达性不足（0.695）、加工设施缺失（0.459）及仓储设施匮乏（-0.432）；环境制约因素主要为恶劣天气（0.578）、石油泄漏与污染（0.536）及水生植物滋生（0.473）；技术制约因素包括渔具设计简陋（0.565）及使用过时捕鱼工具（-0.494）；人为制约因素则表现为捕鱼设备维护不善（0.642）、过度捕捞（-0.471）及渔民间冲突（-0.461）。研究建议制定政策以增强金融包容性，提高手工渔民获取信贷设施的机会；同时建议建立手工捕鱼监管框架，并提供充足的基础设施及加工设施。