Fish species and forms consumed in both water and non-water bodies of Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

Few documented studies on fish demand at the household level exist; despite the high nutritive value of fish protein and its significance to human health. This study was therefore carried out to determine types and forms of fish consumed by rural households in Oyo State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used to select study’s respondents. Thirty percent of the Local Government Areas were randomly selected and resulting ten LGAs were stratified based on the presence of Water Bodies (WB). Twenty villages were selected from each stratum giving 40 villages. Finally, 125 household members were each selected proportionate to size from the forty villages in water body and non-water body strata. Interview schedule was used to obtain information on respondents’ socio–economic characteristics, fish species and forms consumed. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Respondents were aged 55 ± 7.66 years with household size of 6.0 ± 2.2 people. The Respondents were mostly males (84.4%) and 75.2% had secondary school certificate. Scomber species (Marine) (23.7%), Clarias gariepinus(Cultured) (17.1%) and Heterotis niloticus (Captured Freshwater Fish) (20.3%) were the most consumed during the rainy season; while in the dry season, cray fish dried (10.4%), Clarias gariepinus (27.5%) and Heterotis niloticus (12.5%) were the most consumed. Frozen fish is mostly preferred in all seasons with (100.00%) recorded for Pseudolithus, Sardinella and Ethmalosa species; Clarias gariepinus was preferred smoked (14.1% in wet season / 25.2% dry season. Households’ demand for fish in Oyo State varies in proportions of fish species, forms, and quantity but frozen marine fish was mostly demanded.