Determinants of poverty among coastal artisanal fishers in Lagos state, Nigeria

Abstract

This study examined the determinants of poverty status among coastal artisanal fishers in Lagos State, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in selecting 200 artisanal fishers from nine fishing communities. Data were collected using an interview schedule and analysed using descriptive and Ordinary Least Square Regression (OLS) analytical techniques. Majority of the respondents were married (79.0%) and had formal education (95.5%), with mean age of 35.00±8.55 years. The mean monthly income and household expenditure of the artisanal fishers were ?163,810.00±110,347.12 and N89, 276.57, respectively. The mean household size and income-earning members were 7±3.81 and 5±2.88 persons, respectively. More than half (52.2%) of the respondents were relatively poor. Constraints facing coastal artisanal fishing were high cost of fishing materials ?(x ?=1.93±.31), inadequate storage facilities (x ? = 1.93±.27), limited access to credit facilities (x ? = 1.88±.45), and low fish catch (x ? = 1.85±.36). Household size (? = -0.128), number of incomes earning members (?= 0.052), and total monthly household expenditure (?= 0.987) significantly influenced poverty among the respondents. The study concluded that poverty is prevalent among coastal artisanal fishers in Lagos State, Nigeria, and that poverty is influenced by household size, number of incomes earning members, and household expenditure. The study recommended that government and concerned stakeholders should collaborate to provide subsidies or microfinance schemes to reduce the cost burden of fishing materials for artisanal fishers.