Food Security Status of Artisanal Fishers and Concerns of Bycatch in Nigeria

There have been concerns about the part of the catch that is not the primary target of the fishing effort of artisanal fishers along their household food security status. This aimed the study to examine bycatch occurrence and usage, estimate the food security status of fishing households and highlight constraints faced by fishing households in Nigeria. Data collected from one hundred and fifty six (156) artisanal fish farmers of Lagos, Ondo and Kogi States of Nigeria between June 2015 and July 2016 were used for the analysis. The study used descriptive statistics as well as United States Household Food Security Survey Module to fulfil its objectives. The results revealed that majority (95%) of artisanal fishers indicated that introduction of a bycatch reduction device will raise the unit cost of effort and this cost increase induces a reduction in the profit maximizing level of effort and also reduces profit. 50.64% of fishing households were food secured while inadequate capital, lack of extension services, poor fishing gears, water pollution, poor value addition, poor storage facilities, unavailability of fish, lack of formal education, poor access to information, destruction of fish habitats and breeze among others were the constraints faced by artisanal fishers and the major reason they encourage bycatch. The study suggests that government should consistently give support to the extension agents and research institutes so as to give quality education to these farmers on importance of bycatch reduction; embrace effective bycatch reduction devices at minimum cost; implement proper policies that would eliminate these constraints by giving attention to the technical, social and regulatory approaches of bycatch and access to financial capital should be improved.