ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF OPERATION OF ARTISANAL FISHERFOLKS AND FISH MARKETERS ASSOCIATED WITH THREE CREEKS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Abstract

Disturbance in aquatic habitats via several human activities is a potential menace to the fishing business and aquatic biodiversity. This study was conducted to document some socioeconomic characteristics and profitability of fisher folks and fish marketers that are operating within Badagry, Makoko, and Ologe creeks in Lagos State. Primary data were collected with the aid of well-structured questionnaires from 90 fisher- folks and 90 fish-marketers randomly selected across the three fishing communities. Budgetary and descriptive analysis was used to analyse the data collected. Fisher folks and fish-marketers were dominated by males and females respectively while difficulty in accessing credit and high costs of fishing equipment were common challenges they had. 
The calculated Net Return on Investment (NROI) for the fisher folks in Badagry (0.09) Makoko (0.08) and Ologe (0.08) indicated returns of N9, N8, and N8 respectively for every naira invested in the business. However, the NROI for the fish marketers in Badagry, Makoko, and Ologe was 0.27, 0.35, and 0.22 implying a return of N27, N35, and N22 respectively for a Naira invested in the business. The benefit-cost ratio (BCR) for fisher folks and fish marketers across the fishing communities was greater than 1 and this means that artisanal fishing and marketing is profitable. In conclusion, fish marketing in Makoko was the most profitable while the fishing business was most profitable at Badagry.