Inland fisheries: Status, management and related conflicts in the niger delta, Nigeria

Abstract

The importance of inland fisheries sector cannot be over-emphasized and its significance in providing food security and generating local income is not in doubt. Production from inland open water capture fisheries is declining due to over-exploitation and habitat degradation. The rapidly declining catch from fish landing is a possible indication that the fish yields of most Nigerian inland waters are generally low for causes that may range from inadequate management of fisheries to degradation of water bodies. Artisanal fishing in the Niger Delta is faced with myriads of obstacles emanating from human activities; one of these problems being the menace of the commercial fishing trawlers and activities of the oil companies in the area. The local supply of fish and fishery products consists of production from the artisanal (85%), industrial (14%) and Aquaculture (1%) subsectors. The high activity level in the Niger Delta has exposed the area to the dangers of pollution of water, land and air as well as oil spills which have endangered aquatic life as well as the entire ecosystem, topography and surface vegetation leading to loss of biodiversity and conflicts. The contribution of fisheries to the nation economy is very significant in terms of employment, income generation, poverty alleviation, foreign exchange earnings and provision of raw materials for the animal feed industry. In order for biodiversity conservation to be effective, management measures must be broad based.

Keywords: Inland Fisheries, Aquaculture, Over-exploitation, Sustainable, and Pollution.