AN ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF ARTISANAL FISHING IN EPE LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA OF LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

One hundred fishermen from ten fishermen Co-operative Societies is Epe Lawal Government Area of Lagos State were randomly sampled for economic analysis of artisanal fishing in the area. Structured questionnaires and interviews were used to solicit specific responses to some socio economic indices as well as aspects of artisanal fish production. The data so gathered were subjected to statistical and gross margin analysis to determine the profitability of artisanal fishing in the study area. Findings indicate that the main work force engaged in active fishing were in the age bracket of 30-40 years and obtained credit for their operations mostly (55 %) from informal sources. The combined average daily fish output was 21.98kg yielding an average monthly income of PJ19, 000. On the whole, annual profits of $4187, 703 and F145, 425 were recorded for canoe and motorized boat fishing. The motorized boat fishing operation was characterized by high operational costs, accounting for rather low returns compared with canoe fishing.