Unlocking Potentials of Fishermen for Ensuring Livelihood Sustainability through a Multi-Pronged Approach to Empowering Artisanal Fisheries in Shiroro Dam Communities, Nigeria

Abstract

The paper unlocks the Potential of fishermen to ensure sustainability through a multi-pronged approach to empowering artisanal fishermen in Shiroro Dam communities, Nigeria. A questionnaire schedule was employed to gather information from 460 participants. Techniques for proportionate and multi-stage sampling were employed to choose the respondents. Data analysis was done using both inferential statistics, such as linear regression, and descriptive statistical methods, such as frequency distribution count, percentages, and mean. The study's findings demonstrated that the majority of respondents (51.3%) were between the ages of 29 and 41, suggesting that the respondents were youthful, middle-aged fishermen who are still considered to be of fishing age. (87.0%) of the respondents reported being married, and their typical household consisted of 13 people. Four of the eight factors in the model (household size, X¹, access to extension, X², fishing experience, X³, and association membership, X⁴) were found to be significant at both the 1% and 5% levels of significance, according to logit regression estimates of the determinants of fish catch.  As a result, the research concluded that artisanal fishing is vital to the livelihoods of the fishermen around the two dams and must be continued. Therefore, the study suggested that financial institutions provide credit facilities to fishermen who are actively engaged in fishing, and that the requirements for obtaining such credit be simplified. Fishermen should receive enhanced fishing and processing inputs from the government at a discounted cost. Fishermen should be educated about new fishing methods by Fisher Extension Agents.