Assessment of Women Participation in Fisheries Activities in Some Coastal Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria

Ikeogu C.F; Akinrotimi O.A; Onuoha L

doi:10.56201/rjpst.vol.9.no3.2026.pg95.108

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Assessment of Women Participation in Fisheries Activities in Some Coastal Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria

Ikeogu C.F, ., Akinrotimi O.A, and Onuoha L

Abstract

The study assessed women participation in fisheries activities in some coastal communities in Asari-toru Local Government Area of Rivers State, Nigeria. Data were obtained from 120 women in the study area. Descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentage were used to analyse the data. The results obtained revealed that most (41.67%) of the respondents were between 26 – 40 years old. Majority (62.50%) were married, with the highest (60.0%) family size of 5 – 10. The educational status revealed that 50% had secondary education, 36.67% had primary education, while a few of them (10%) had tertiary education and 3.33% had no formal education. Most (58.33%) of the respondents has been involved in fishery activities for 11 – 20 years and engaged in fishery business on part time basis. The fishing sites ownership status in the study area indicated that the fishing site belongs to the community and not personal. The fisheries activities showed that most of the women (51.67%) engaged in marketing, 29.17% in fish processing, 14.17% in active fishing, while 4.16% and 0.83% were involved in net production and boat construction respectively. Also, majority of the respondents (60.0%) engaged in fishery activities to meet their family needs. The types of fish processing/preservation methods used by the respondents in the study area revealed that majority (75.0%) of the respondents used smoking, and ice block (20.0%). The annual financial returns in the study area showed that 41.67% of the respondents earned between N301, 000-N500, 000. The occupational hazards and risks experienced by the respondents during fisheries operations in the study area indicated that 50.00% of the respondents in the study area affirmed that offensive body odour was as a major occupational hazard and risk experienced by the respondents during fisheries operations, While 15.83% confirmed that it is redness/swelling of the eyes, 14.17% confirmed it is skin rashes/eczema, 8.33% attributed it to Wounds/bruises and emotional trauma/fear of attack and 1.67% affirmed it to boat accident and inhalation of poisonous substances. The constraints experienced by the respondents showed that most of the respondents (63.6%) affirmed that insufficient fund is the major constraint confronting women participation in fisheries activities in the study area. To enhance fisheries activities among the women fisher folks, there is therefore, the need to empower them through granting of loans and credit facilities and capacity building in terms of personal hygiene, healthcare services utililization, and strategic business management. These will go a long way in boosting fish production, improve their sustainable livelihoods and enhance socio-economic status of the women fisher folks in these coastal communities.

Keywords

WomenFisheriesCoastal environmentConstraintsHealth hazards

References

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Assessment of Women Participation in Fisheries Activities in Some Coastal Communities of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Keywords

References

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