LIVELIHOOD DIVERSIFICATION AND FISHERS’ AGREEMENT WITH FISHERIES CONSERVATION POLICIES IN COASTAL AREAS OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

Natural resources are crucial to the livelihood and well-being of coastal communities. These resources are,
however, depleting, affecting the dwellers' livelihoods. This study examines the household livelihood
diversification and fishers' agreement with fisheries conservation policies in coastal areas of Lagos State, Nigeria.
A multistage sampling procedure was adopted, and seventy-two fishers were randomly selected from five coastal
fishing communities. Data were collected using a validated interview schedule and subjected to descriptive and
inferential analytical techniques. Results revealed that the majority of the fishers were youthful between 21-40
years (76.4%) with a mean age of approximately 37 years, male (65.3%), and married (83.3%). The mean fishing
experience and household size were computed as 16 years and 6 persons, respectively. Majority of the fishers
operate on a full-time basis (94.4%) and during the morning period (77.8%). Findings indicated that the highest
proportions of the fishers had household members whose livelihood diversification was moderate (37.5%) and
high (34.7%). It was discovered that the most commonly used fishing gears were gill nets (77.8%), fish
aggregating devices (73.6%), cast nets (68.1%) and seine nets (62.5%). The majority (91.7%) of the fishers
indicated the exploitation of woods from mangrove areas, 55.6% reported the loss of fishing gears on the water,
and 34.7% observed conflicts among water users. The awareness of fishing policies ranged from 0.0% to 32.0%.
Closed areas and not keeping certain fish types were agreed by 59.7% as fisheries conservation policies. The study
established significant associations between household livelihood diversification and agreement with the closed
season (χ2=21.696, p≤0.01) and not keeping certain fish types (χ2=12.246, p≤0.05) as coastal fisheries
conservation policies. The study concluded that coastal fisheries resources are depleting and do not guarantee
sustainable fisheries development. It was recommended that government agencies should raise awareness of
fisheries policies in coastal fishing communities.