Macroscopic gonad staging and reproductive seasonality in the Gorean snapper, Lutjanus goreensis a gonochoristic West African Lutjanid

In Nigeria, the Gorean snapper Lutjanus goreensis is an important component of artisanal fisheries and trawl landings although substantial gap exists on some aspects of the species’ reproductive biology in the entire Gulf of Guinea. The main objective of the study was to characterize the sexual differentiation and ratio, spawning seasonality and pattern through observation of three somatic indices: gonadosomatic index IG, hepatosomatic index IH and the Relative Condition Factor (Krel), macroscopic staging and size at first sexual maturity of the species. Spawning seasonality and pattern were best determined from temporal trends of IG and macroscopic gonad stage frequencies. The fish is monogamous with sex ratio of 1 male: 1 female. Five distinct gonad maturity stages and lack of population synchrony in gonadal development were distinguished. Mean sizes at first sexual maturity were 34.61cm TL and 34.21 cm TL for females and males, respectively. Multiple spawning peaks reflected by high IG occurred in December, May to June and August indicated protracted spawning while lowest IG occurred in March-April, denoted a resting phase. The species is a multiple spawner as evinced from asynchronous development of the gonads. It showed continuous reproduction throughout the year, particularly at higher intensity during the heavy rains (May to September). While these findings imply continuous recruitment into fishery, it is recommended that for optimal exploitation, minimum capture size has to be increased above sizes at sexual maturity

Nigeria: a heavy blow

More than the COVID-19 pandemic itself, the lockdowns to prevent its spread have harder hit Nigeria’s unorganized small-scale fishers. The COVID-19 pandemic has fundamentally struck all facets of life in affected countries and the small-scale fisheries (SSF) of Nigeria are no exception. The pandemic has hit the country’s small fishers both directly and indirectly. Small operators are the bulk of Nigeria’s fisheries sector. They account for 70 per cent of the domestic fish production, and sustain the livelihoods of millions of people in one way or another; the dependence on local fish species for economic and food security is evidently large. SSF provides an accessible, cheap and rich source of protein and essential micronutrients to the rural population. Their impact on social, economic and cultural spheres is immense

A contextual analysis of small-scale fisheries governance in Nigeria: Building on challenges and opportunities for sustainability

Complex social–ecological systems such as small-scale fisheries require the inclusion of human dimensions in fisheries management and planning for simultaneously preserving human health and habitat health. However, linkages between ecological, social, political and economic subsystems have been largely ignored in conventional fisheries management, in Nigeria in particular. Hence, the weak governance in the fisheries sub-sector in general is marred by intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral conflicts. The Nigerian fishery is predominantly small-scale in nature yet this sub-sector is contributing about 70 percent to the total national domestic fish production. Despite the significant social, economic and cultural impacts, the small-scale fisheries currently lacks enabling conditions and receives the least priority considerations in the developmental process. This paper presents a contextual analysis of historical developments and the current status of small-scale fisheries in Nigeria. In this paper, several analytical approaches were adopted. The research design used an inductive-qualitative approach, based on papers retained for relevance to development themes and cross-cutting issues in small-scale fisheries from an extensive literature search after a scanning and selection process using a four - point criteria. From this analysis, an assessment was made against the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (VG-SSF) in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication and a framework conceptualized and discussed, based on collective action to improve the organization level and capacity building of fishers, data on capture fish production, integrating ecosystem–based management in addition to gender integration into fisheries policies and decision-making processes for improved fisheries performance and sustainability

A contextual analysis of small-scale fisheries governance in Nigeria: building on challenges and opportunities for sustainability

Complex social–ecological systems such as small-scale fisheries require the inclusion of human dimensions in fisheries management and planning for simultaneously preserving human health and habitat health.However, linkages between ecological, social, political and economic subsystems have been largely ignored in conventional fisheries management, in Nigeria in particular. Hence, the weak governance in the fisheries sub-sector in general is marred by intra-sectoral and inter-sectoral conflicts. The Nigerian fishery is predominantly small-scale in nature yet this sub-sector is contributing about 70 percent to the total national domestic fish production. Despite the significant social, economic and cultural impacts, the small-scale fisheries currently lacks enabling conditions and receives the least priority considerations in the developmental process. This paper presents a contextual analysis of historical developments and the current status of small-scale fisheries in Nigeria. In this paper, several analytical approaches were adopted. The research design used an inductive-qualitative approach, based on papers retained for relevance to development themes and cross-cutting issues in small-scale fisheries from an extensive literature search after a scanning and selection process using a four -point criteria. From this analysis, an assessment was made against the Voluntary Guidelines for Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries (VG-SSF) in the Context of Food Security and Poverty Eradication anda framework conceptualized and discussed, based on collective action to improve the organization level and capacity building of fishers, data on capture fish production, integrating ecosystem–based management in addition to gender integration into fisheries policies and decision-making processes for improved fisheries performance and sustainability

The role of small-scale fisheries in Nigeria’s food system

This discussion paper draws together recent data on fish and aquatic foods, and nutrition in Nigeria, to examine how small-scale fisheries fit within and contribute to Nigeria’s food system. Much of the analysis and exploration we present here are of very recent data from global, national, and local initiatives. This discussion paper has a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goals 2, and other goals and targets related to human nutrition, food security, and sustainable food production and supplies

Experimental and survey-based data on willingness to pay for seafood safety and environmental sustainability certification in Nigeria

Aquatic foods, including fish, are a substantial component of animal source foods globally, and make a critical nutritional contribution to diets in many contexts. In the global North, concern among consumers and regulators over the safety and environmental sustainability of seafood, particularly in developed nations, has led to the development of increasingly stringent seafood safety standards. While such standards may constitute regularity, logistical, and economic barriers to participation in export markets by small-scale producers, they have in other contexts catalysed upgrades to production and post-harvest handling practices within value chains associated with both capture fisheries and aquaculture. The health burden of foodborne illnesses is a major concern in developing countries. As incomes rise, consumers in developing countries are increasingly willing to pay a premium for safer and environmentally sustainable foods. However, there is little empirical evidence on consumers' willingness to pay for seafood safety in developing countries, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. Data on demand for seafood safety and environmental sustainability certification in African countries are largely unavailable in the public domain. In this paper, we describe data collected in Lagos State, Nigeria in October and November 2019. Experiments in the form of Becker-DeGroote-Marschak (BDM) auction mechanism, and post experiment surveys were conducted with 200 fish consumers in fish markets. These data can be used to assess whether consumers' demand for safe and healthy seafood from local markets can be harnessed to generate positive economic returns to producers. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc

The role of small-scale fisheries in Nigeria’s food system

This discussion paper draws together recent data on fish and aquatic foods, and nutrition in Nigeria, to examine how small-scale fisheries fit within and contribute to Nigeria’s food system. Much of the analysis and exploration we present here are of very recent data from global, national, and local initiatives. This discussion paper has a particular focus on Sustainable Development Goals 2, and other goals and targets related to human nutrition, food security, and sustainable food production and supplies

Capture fish product quality and international trade in developing world

Fisheries products are the worlds most widely traded foods. Despite the fact that global demand for fish and fishery products continues to rise every year, fish export from the developing world have faced many limitation from non-conformity with international standards to inadequate product certification. As international fisheries trade grows, governments, industry and fishers face the reality of a complex web of international trade, environmental policy and legal instruments. The objective of this study was to examine current trend in fisheries trade as it relates to product quality. The methodology used involved different approaches including secondary data, interview of processors, regulatory agents to unveil grey areas in quality of fisheries products. Results showed that there are several public/private standards and certifications involved in fisheries. These standards pose export challenges for developing countries who often find it difficult to meet the requirements of certification bodies as a result of steep certification fees, inadequate data, and small-scale business models. Consequently, up to 20 million metric tons of fish annually is either declared unfit for human consumption, destroyed or rejected at international market due to sub-standard quality problems. Furthermore, some countries are now banned from international trade due to non-compliance with international fishing standards. Poor quality practices in fisheries activities and processing contribute to economic loss in fish trade among the stakeholders. Developing countries need to intensify ways to gain credence of quality standards and certification bodies in order to compete better at international trade

Are consumers in developing countries willing to pay for aquaculture food safety certification? Evidence from a field experiment in Nigeria

Many developing countries face challenges in managing food safety risks associated with consumption of animalsource foods. Efforts to address these challenges increasingly recognize the role of certification in agri-food systems governance. Understanding consumers' willingness to pay (WTP) for food safety certification is fundamental to determining the appropriate design and implementation of programs to reduce the burden of foodborne illnesses in developing countries. To address this need, we implemented a framed field experiment with consumers of eight farm-raised African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) products varying in certification status (safety certified versus uncertified) and product forms (live versus smoked) to examine their WTP for food safety certification in Nigeria. We applied a mixed-effects model to account for the hierarchical structure of the data with one participant entering multiple bids, and estimated a model with participant fixed effects as a robustness check. We found that consumers were willing to pay between 3.1% and 18.8% more for fish certified as safe compared to uncertified fish. Furthermore, there was an asymmetry in food safety certification valuation, with consumers paying significant premiums for high-value larger-sized certified live and smoked catfish, but not smaller-sized certified live and smoked catfish. The results are robust to a specification in which consumer fixed effects are included. Our findings suggest there exists consumer demand for certification programs to upgrade the food safety standards of higher-value fish products in Nigeria's domestic markets. Lower-value fish products typically consumed by lower-income consumers show less potential for certification. Alternative safety regulation is needed to ensure safety practices for low-end fish products

Sustaining the blue bounty: Fish food and nutrition security in Nigeria's evolving blue economy

Fish is a key component of Nigeria's protein supply, making up about 40% of the nation's protein intake and considerably aiding in the achievement of the second Sustainable Development Goal of feeding the expanding population. Despite its importance, Nigeria's fish production and supply cannot keep up with demand. While total fish output has increased from 1,073,059 tonnes in 2014 to 1,169,000 tonnes in 2018 and is expected to reach 1,275,000 tonnes by 2030, there is a great supply gap. Fish production not only affects food security but also the national economy and employment. Notwithstanding, the fisheries sub-sector suffers several difficulties, such as poor management, a deficient fisheries policy, overfishing, diminishing catch, and a lack of technical know-how among fish growers and fishermen. Thus, exploring untapped aquaculture potential and managing small-scale fisheries effectively are necessary to close the gap between the demand for and supply of fish. The fish output situation can be improved by enforcing fisheries policy and regulations, increasing investments in ethical fisheries and aquaculture, and providing sufficient training for fish farmers and fisherfolk. To reduce waste associated with the limited number of fish now produced, post-harvest losses must also be addressed. By solving these issues and putting in place the necessary actions, Nigeria can increase its fish production, strengthen its food security, and accomplish the sustainable development goals in its evolving blue economy