AKSU Journal of Agricultural Economics, Extension and Rural Development
ISSN(Online): 2736-0040 ISSN(Print): 2695-1975
ISSN(Online): 2736-0040 ISSN(Print): 2695-1975
Abstract
The study extensively examined the socio-economic/demographic characteristics of the artisanal fishermen
disaggregated into contract fishers, former contract fishers and those that have never been in contract fishing
business. Data were collected from 232 randomly selected fishers (91 contract, 61 former and 80 never
contract fishers) artisanal fishers for analysis. Descriptive statistic including mean, proportions and
percentages were used and chi-square statistic was used to establish if there were significant differences in
the socio-economic/demographic characteristics of contract, former and non-contract fishermen. The
analysis showed that the socio-economic/demographic characteristics of the fishers as classed, differed
significantly with the contract fishers being younger, less experienced, fishing on daily basis, spending more
hours at sea, exploring the oceanic waters, being most productive in terms of daily quantity catch and
contract enthused. Against this backdrop of empirical findings, the results questioned why there should not
be policy shifts towards assisting this set of young fishermen with fishing inputs in the form of contract to
boast artisanal fish production in the state in particular and Nigeria in general.