Abstract:
This research project considered the economic analysis of artisanal fisheries, using four Local Government Areas in Kwara State as a case study. The objectives were to examine socio-economic characteristics of artisanal fishermen and to estimate costs and returns and factors affecting net return to fishing efforts in the State's artisanal fisheries. Data collected from 160 fishermen randomly selected from four out of the eight fishing Local Government Areas in the State were analysed, using budgetary technique and production
function analysis.
The results revealed that fishermen in the study area were middle-aged people having the modal class of 31 - 40 years (45.0%) and the literacy rate was very low (30.06%) while the bulk (82.50%) had subsidiary occupations to supplement their incomes from fishing. Average net return per kilogram of fish caught ranges from N5.03 to N8.29 while average net fishing income per season per fisherman ranges from N10, 429.88 to N20, 786.25 with State average of N6.48 and N15, 406.67 respectively.
The postulated independent variables: year of fishing experience, number of fishing trips per season, mandays of family labour, fishing, hours per season and the costs of fishing nets and baits explained approximately 84.0% in the variations of fish caught with every input being inelastic with respect to the output. Labour and material resources were employed beyond the point of their economic optimum. However, all the explanatory variables - depreciation of fixed inputs, fishing hours per season, cost of hired labour, imputed cost of family labour, year of fishing experience and number of fishing trips per season included in the factors affecting fishermen's net income explained between
57.5%and 80.6% in the variations in the fishing incomes earned by fishermen.
It is recommended, therefore, that artisanal fishermen in the State should be educated to ensure proper understanding of new fishing method and adopt technology capable of increasing not only the profitability of the enterprise but also make efficient use of fishing resources.
