Socioeconomic Profiling of Artisanal Fishing in Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: Sex, Age and Access to Credit Perspective

The study conducted socioeconomic profiling of artisanal fishing in Eastern Obolo LGA of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, emphasizing on sex, age and access to credit facilities. Purposive and random sampling techniques were utilized in selecting 30 fish farmers from three (3) fishing depots (Educwink, Elekpon and Agan-asa), respectively, making a total of 90 respondents. Data were collected using structured questionnaire, and analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequency distribution, cross tabulation, graphs and charts. Inferential statistical tools such as chi-square and analysis of variance (ANOVA), were also used. All the fish farmers were males, while their average age was 34 years. Fishermen within the age group of 25 – 34 years, were in majority (63.33%), while the least proportion (13.33%) of them was aged, 45 – 54 years. Their average ages ( = 29.39, 38.52 & 48.42) across the various age groups were significantly (p<0.0001) different from one another. Majority (54.4%) of the fishermen had no access to credit facilities, 25.6% of them accessed N20,000 – N40,000, while 20.0% accessed N41,000 – N60,000. The average amounts of credit ( = N0.00, N37,608.70 & N83,777.78) in the various classes of credit were significantly (p<0.0001) different from one another. The associations between the fishermen’s age and access to credit facilities was weak (V = 0.315) and significant (ar>|2|). No fish farmer within 45 – 54 years of age accessed the credit facility, N20,000.00 – N40,000.00, while about 8.8% and 58.3% of fishermen within the age groups of 25 – 34 years and 45 – 54 years, accessed N41,000.00 – N60,000.00, respectively. The study recommended policies that will stimulate women’s interest and participation in artisanal fishing, while ensuring the fishing population remains youthful. Further policies should also enhance increased credit accessibility to artisanal fishermen, such that larger amounts can be accessed by younger fishermen.