This study provides information on fish quantities, economic data and flows of Doro fish market near Baga, Nigeria, known as the major fish market on the Nigeria section of the Lake Cha

Ladu, B.M.B.

Ovie, S.I.

Sule, O.D.

Aquatic Commons

41)
Ata
INTRODUCTION
Neiland et al (1977) indicated that the management of
inland- fisheries in African !:.,y modern government
organisation is severely constrained by lack of accurate
and regularly updated data necessary for decision-
making. In Nigeria, the lack of adequate funding is the
major factor responsible fbr poor fish.eries statistics and
hence the often, divergent nation fisheries production
estimates available for the country.
The FAO (1997) Technical guideline for responsible
inland fisheries States that "In accordance with their
capacities, States should establish or promote the
establishment of systems to monitor riverine and
lacustrine env ironments as part of the basin management
process using physical, chemical, biological and social
parameters"
The majority of fish monitoring systems and appraisals
carried out in the lake Chad Basin, have in the past, been
predominantly biologica (Mainly catch assessments
which are expensive and difficult to sustain). For
effective management strategy and policy formation, it
is necessary to adopt a mufti disciplinary approach to
monitoring which include biological, economic, social,
institutional and environmental data to provide
sufficient and appropriate information for decision-
making at both national and international levels.
The concept of FIW.; 1,..T:i511.cr es information Monitoring
Statems recently introdueed by Neiland et al. ! 977)
draws on a combination of methodologies at it is based
on a fisheries-wide holistic approach using market
surveys and key interviews". The method integrates
issues of economics, social institutional and
environment data required for effective management
strategy and policy eeeision-rnaking. The overall
objective of FIMS in this study is therefore to provide
information on the status and performance of the
fisheries for the purpose of fisheries planning and
management recent estimate of fish production from
Lake Chad is over 40,000mt/y (Neiland, et al 1997).
The fisheries einploy about 10,000 fishermen including
68
about 150,000 persons associated with the fisheries
business (Sagua, 1991). At least 70% of the catch is sold
for cash, providing 30 - 50% of annual household for the
fishers (Neiland et al 1994). Nutritionally, the fisheries
of Lake Chad also provide the bulk of the protein
requirement of the rural community. Additionally, fish
supply from the region is known to account for over 70%
of fish product traded in large urban markets of southern
Nigeria, namely Onitsha, Enugu, Lagos, Ilorin and
lbadan (Neiland eta! 1997, Ladu eta!, 2000).
Though no resent comprehensive studies of fish
commerce and trade in Chad Basin have been
undertaken and documented, it is evident that processed
fish products from the Basin are economically
significant to the riparian countries, and particularly
Nigeria, despite the impact of the Sahel drought on
fisheries production (Maembe an Gubio, 1981: Neiland
eta! 1994).
This study attempts to provide information on fish
quantities, economic data and flows using a key nodal
point (Doro fish market near Baga) known to be the
major fish market on the Nigerian section ()flake Chad.
THE STU 1Y AREA
Doro fish market (about 2.5 ha in size) is located on the
western shored of the Nigerian sector of the Lake Chad
Basin. It operates on weekly basis (usually every
Wednesday) and it receives processed fish products
(mainly smoked or charred) from the numerous Islands
on the Nigerian shores of the lake. Doro is a "centre of
activity: (Reiger et al 1989) and"hot spot" (Sedell et al
1989) for fish marketing in the Chad Basin Area. the
Market is divided into sections according to the
destinations offish commodities.
METHODOLOGY
Processed fish products in terms offish species, quantity
(Volume sold), unitriee/total sale value, origin and
export destination were monitored for a period of 12
months (June 200 to May 2001) in Doro fish market.
The fish market was visited every Wednesday (main
1R-6(t5TION F FISH FROM LAKE CHAD
BY
2 OVIE S. I 3 LADU El. M. R.
11111:SHWATER FISHERIES RESARCH, ONAL OFFICE
4. B. 1293, IDUGURI
krriruirE FOR FRESHWATER
L. La k'L'SEARCH,
a)06,
AM LLTUSSA.
market day) and fish trade, with respect to above
parameters, assessed using specially trained
enumerators.
The enumerators were identified and selected from
available fisheries officers from the locality and trained
by N1FFR Scientists - using structured interview
questionnaires. Packaged fish (in cartons and sacks of
standard weight) were wanted and re-weighed when
sold/or loaded on to lorries for transportation to various
Southern Nigerian fish m arkets
Type of Fish commodity
Processed fish species were identified as much as
practicable in the market
Total sale volume
The number of cartons sold and loaded on to Lorries was
recorded. Various cartons and sacks were weighed with
a suspended spring balance. These were used as
standards during the monitoring exercise.
Unit value and total sale value
Unit price for individual cartons and sacks was recorded
and used to calculate total sale value.
Origin offish
Origin (source) of fish (open water, flood-plain area etc)
brought to the market for sale was recorded.
Export destination of fish products
Record ofname of city or area outside Doro where fish is
transported (destination) for retail distribution was
made.
RESULTS
Commercial fish species traded of the over 80 fish
species belonging to about 17 families traded at Doro
market, only nine species belonging to nine families
were assessed to be of commercial importance (Table 1).
these include Lates, Gymnarchus, Labeo, Protopterus,
Bagrus, Heterotis and Clarias species, Citharinus
species and Tilapia species. The fish sellers claimed
that since 1974 Clarias species have dominated the fish
catch from Lake Chad.
Table I: Commercial fish spe-ies traded in Dore
Market, aga Nigeria.
S/No. Fish General
Lates
Gymnarchus
Labeo
Protepterus
Bagrus
heterotis
Clarias sp.
Citharinus
Tilapia
Family
Centropomidae
Gymnarchidae
Cyprinidae
Lipidosirinidae
Bagridae
Osteoglossidae
Clariidae
Citharinidae
Ciclid
Sources: Doro marketsurvey data, May 2001.
It was also noticed into market that large Clarias species
69
are coiled head to tail in a ring and then skewed into a
pointed stick known as "Tonkoso: Heterotis and Tilapia
species were cut into chunks (mangala) before smoking.
Small Clarias and some Tilapia Species are either
smoked whole or charred, while Protropterus are gutted
and coiled before smoking. Alestes and small Tilapia
are usually sun-dried for sale in the market.
Unit price and total sale value
Table 2 shows that unit price for various cartons and
sacks of dried fish at Doro fish market. Clarias species
packaged in Onitsha and Enugu carton (Samtole)
weighing 40 -50kg sold for between N4,000.00
N5,000.00 while sacks of sun dried mixed fish species
weighing 35 - 40kg sold for N700.00/sack. Tobacco
cartons destined for florin weighing between 15 - 25kg
sold for N1,500.00 - N2,000.00/cartons. Pure Clarias
in tobacco cartons weighing 30kg - 40 kg sold for
N2,000.00 - N3,000.00.carton depending on fish supply
to the market.
Various cartons and sacks of fish cost differently
depending on the type offish product.
Total weekly and monthly sales (in weight and cash) of
fish product are presented on Table 3a and 3b,
respectively, Weekly sales rang,ed from
TABLE 2: UNIT PRINCE FOE VARI US
CART INS AND SACKS OF iRIfED FISH AT
DO, ,0 FINE MARKE
Source: Doro Market survey data, May 2001.
PACKAGIING WEIGHT(lig)
ITEMS
PRICE (N)
Enugu carton 40 - 50 4000.00 - 5000.00
Sacks of Dried Fish 35 - 40 700.00/sack
florin Carton 15 - 25 1500.00- 2000.00
Tobacco Carton
(Ilorin)
30 - 40 2000.00- 3000.00
Samatola Carton 40 - 50 3500.00- 4000.00
TABLE 3: TOTAL WEEKLY VOLUME AND TABLE 3B: MONTHLY TOTAL VOLUME AND
TOTAL SALE VALUE OF Mil FOR ONE YEAR TOTAL SALE VALUE (N) OF FISH FOR A
(JUNE, 2000- MAY 2001) AT DOROlVitARKET PERIOD OF ONE YEAR (JUNE 2000- MAY 2001)
DATE TOTAL VOLUME TOTAL SALE
SOLD (TONNES)/ VALUE (N)/WE (
WEEK
01/02/2001 282.75
08/02/2001
15/02/2001
22/02.2001
01/03/2001
08.03.2001
15.03.2001
22/03/2001
29/03/2001
05/04/2001
12.04,2001 330,75
19/04/2001 254.75
262.2
276.1
233.95
225.05
398.6
263.3
300.75
300.8
104.7
2,585,000.00
5.209,000.00
13,170,000.00
9,563,000.00
25,740 000.00
23.877,500.00
45.225,000.00
45,200,000.00
48.645,000.00
53,530,000.00
58,115,000.00
22.215,000.00
16.262,000.00
40,447,000.00
54,085 000.00
8.620.000.00
50,340,000.00
56,662.000.00
60,750,000.00
27,978,000.00
47.500,000.00
38.104,500.00
55,666,000.00
35,940,000.00
57,291,600.00
49.590,000.00
70,150.000.00
53,440,000.00
28,320.000.00
24.187.500.00
46,765,000.00
49 360,000.00
35,573,000,00
74,990,000.00
68.560,000.00
99.975.000.00
71,250,000.00
66.060.000.00
107 275 000.00
64,060,000.00
78,558,000.00
6`..¡,280,000.00
23.850.000.00
82 050 000.00
692303000.00
26.04.2001 219.35 66 170 000.00
03.05.2001 254,75 60,810,000.00
10.02.2001 229.4 55,820,000.00
17/05.2001 282.92 64,677,000.00
24/05/2001 281.7 73,872,000.00
3 1/05/2001 277.7 53,335.000.00
Source: Doro lAarket survey data. May 2001.
7e
TOTAL
V LUME
SOLE
(TONNES)/
MONTH
MONTHS
Source: Doro market survey data May 2001
53.3 (June 2002) to 398 6mt (March, 2001) Weekly
inonetary value ranged from N2.6m (June 200) to
N107.3m (March 2001) Corresponding monthly values
ranged from 581.2mt (September 200) to 1488. 8int
(March 2001) and N30.53m June 2000) to n38166mm in
March 2001. The volume of fish trade fluctuated
seasonally depending on a number of factors such as
flood regirne of the lake, supply and demand, socio-
political issues e.g ethnic conflicts etc. Fish demand and
supply was found to be high at periods of major Christian
and Moslem Holidays.
Annual sale volume for the period covered by this study
(June 2000 - May 2001) was 9903.07mt and
N2,557,448,5000.00 )Approx. N2.6b) Average weekly
sale .was 244. 25m or N45.740,000.00
Fish packaging
packaging of smoked fish was found to be an important
industry in the market. The fish brought from the
various parts of the Lake are heaped on mats spread on
the ground for repackaging in various cartons (see plate
1) Depending on the destination of the product in
southern Nigeria.
Repackaging of fish products in the market is a well
organized business.
Tying of cartons
The cartons were usually re-enforced it steel stripes and
then tied very strongly with ropes before loading into
Lorries (See plate 2) for transportation to distant
destinations. The making and sale of ropes is a thriving
business in the region. A special group of people are
involved in the typing process.
TOTAL SALE
VALUE (N)/
June 2000 332.8 3,052,200.00
July 2000 870.7 136,298,500.00
August 2000 840.64 22,770.500,00
September 2002 581.2 12,941,400,00
October 2002 1016.27 195,730,000,00
Novem ber 2002 1103 234,502,000.00
December 2002 781.9 201,140,000.00
January 2001 779.4 155,890,500.00
February 2001 1055 314,774,000.00
March 2001 1488.69 381,658,000.00
April 2001 909.55 241,300,000.00
May 2001 134.92 308,514.000.00
Total 9,894.07 2,208,571,100.00
09/06/2000 53.3
15/6/2000 88
22/6/2000 109
29/6/2001 82.3
06/07/2000 264
13/7/2000 154.55
20/7/2000 235.5
01/08/2000 195.1
10/08/2000 197.84
17/08/2000 213.7
24/08/2000 234
31/08/2000 125.79
07/09/2000 100.2
14/10/2000 202.9
21/09/2000 255.3
28/09/2000 122.5
05/10/2000 233.4
12/10/2000 272.42
19/10/2000 325.55
26/10/2000 182.9
02/11/2000 217.4
09/11/2000 2,12,1
16/11/2000 270.5
23/11/2000 187.6
30/11/2000 215.4
07/12/2000 176.15
14/12/2000 231.2
21/12/2000 220.4
28/12/2000 154.15
04/01/2001 161,95
11/01/2001 230.85
18/01/2001 230.85
25/01n001 156
Loading of packaged fish
Stacking cartons and sacks of fish unto trucks by
labourers (dandoco) is another business observed in the
market (See Plate 4). The biggest trucks (German
Benzs) can carry up to 5 - 6 tonnes offish when fully
loaded (see Plate 5)
Origin and destination
According to the fish sellers, the open lake accounts for
up to 90% of the fish product with only 10% coming
from the swampy lake shores.
FIG. 1: POLITICAL MAP OF NIGERIA SHOWING VARIOUS DESTINATIONS
OF FISH FROM LAKE CHAD.
71
The fish were packaged in cartons and transported
mainly to southern Nigerian market of Onitsha, Enugu,
Lagos, Ibadan and florin (Fig I) A total of 949 trucks
loaded fish from Doro market to various destinations in
Nigeria diming the reporting period (Table 4 Figl) A
hundred and eighty one (181) trucks representing 19.1%
loaded fish to Onitsha, while 122 lorries (12.8%) loaded
fish products to Ibadan. Enugu received the Highest,
TALE 4: PERCENTAGE NUMBER OF
TRUCKS (911)
T T LOADED FISH TO VARIOUS
DESTINATIONS F OM JUN 2002 - MAY 20011
AT DORO
DESTINATION
Onitsha
I badan
Enugu
Maiduguri
Benin
Kano
Lagos
Yola
Total
190
8?
85
Mill111111
949
20.0MM.MOM 8.6
8.9
8.9
0.3
100
Source: Doro market survey data, may 2001
accounting for approximately 20.0% of the trucks,
Lagos florin and Kano received similar number of
vehicles (Approx 9%), while other cities occupy lower
intermediate levels.
72
WULGO FISH MARICET
Aside from Doro, Wulgo (Fig 2) a border town between
Nigerian and Cameroon is thought to be strategically
located (being at the deltaic inouth of the River EL-Beid
and the Chari-Logone system) and represents a major
source of fish outlet from the Lake Chad Basin. we
visited this town between the 16th and 20th ofJuly 2001
to estimate the possible contribution of processed fish
product from this area. We found no commercial fish
market here but we were informed that the village serves
as a seasonal loading centre for fish product brought in
from Kinasarum (Chad Republic), Kofia (Cameroon)
and Darrak (Nigeria) during the rainy season. The three
village have weekly fish market days on Tuesdays,
Mondays and Sundays, respectively. In the dry season,
transportation vehicles are able to go farther into the
flood plain to Katikime (see Fig 2) to load fish from this
area. This was the cases when we v isited in July 2001.
From interviews, we were informed that fish products
from his area, either from VVulgo (rainy season) or
Katikime (dry season) are brought directly to Muna fish
market (every Thursdays) in Maiduguri for sale. Using
the same standard method as in Doro fish market,
attempt was therefore made to estimate the volume of
fish from this area. the estimate yielded a weekly
volume of approximately 3750 bags with a total weight
of about I 50t (approximate 40kg/bag) and a sale value of
N7.5m. This represents a large fish trade but more
detailed seasonal study is required before any firm
conclusion can be drawn from this preliminary work.
CHAD
20 40 60 80 100
PERCENTAGE
(%)
19.1
12.8
NUMBER
OF TRUCKS
181
DISCUSSION
Doro fish market near Baga had been established from
previous studies to be the major fish market receiving the
bulk of fish caught within the Nigerian territory of the
Lake Chad Basin (Neiland et al, 1997; Ladu et al, 2002).
the volume of fish trade obtained in this study indicates
the significant contribution of the country. The open
water and to a small extent the marshy area of the lake
constitute the major source of the fish products. The
Southern Nigerian markets of Onitsha, Enugu, Lagos,
lbadan and Ilorin continued to be the major receiver of
fish products from the Basin. Fish commodity types are
not different from previous records as the commercial
species continued to be dominated by Clarias, heterotis,
lates, Gymnarchus, Citharinus, Labeo, Protepterus etc.
Using a conversion factor of 4.5 (Sagua 1986), the total
annual fish volume of smoked fish product (9903mt)
from Doro market is equivalent to 4453.5mt fresh
weight. This value (44563mt) when put together with
domestic consumptidn by fishermen and their familiar,
limited quantity sold fresh for immediate domestic needs
in addition to supply from other minor routes such as
Wulgo, agrees largely with the over 40,000mt estimated
for this region by Neiland et al (1997).
It was observed that the marketing and destruction of
Lake Chad fish was controlled by experienced fish
traders who form a complicated chain of buying and
selling. These middlemen called the "Fatomas and
"Belbelas" are actively involved in the marketing of
processed fish.
"The Belbelas are big fish merchants who purchases fish
from the fishermen, employ labour to process, smoke
and transport the fish from the Islands to Doro feeder
market for sale. The "Fatomas" (spokesman for
fishermen) and the "Delatis" are the go-between
commission agents of the customers and the Belbellas,
the involvement of these middlemen in fish marketing,
has to some extent, increased the overallcost offish from
the region.
It is noteworthy that despite this huge trade in fish
product from the region, no official tax is paid to Local,
State or Federal Government. The enterperenuers
however, claimed that the joint patrol team consisting of
Nigeria and Chadian soldiers and Nigerian Customs
Officers extort some unofficial tax from them. No
receipts were issued for such collections. Rural
communities are usually not well disposed to tax
payment and this makes a recommendation on the issue
very difficult. However, considering the huge fish trade
from the region, it is worthwhile looking into the
possibility of limited taxation as a means of generating
some revenue for the State.
To a large extent, the overall aim and objectives of this
study, which was to provide a multidisciplinary
73
information performance and status of the fisheries and
as means of complementing previous fisheries research
in the Lake Chad Basin, have been achieved, the study
demonstrates the feasibility if operation of a FILMS at a
regional level and could provide a model for the
establishment of a regional fisheries data based. The
model if well planned, organized and implemented
could be more cost effective than Catch Assessment
Survey.
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
We wish to express our gratitude to the European Union
for providing funds for this study. We are also grateful to
the project coordinator. Dr. Arthur NEILAND for
project execution. Massier Edward Fayin Emmanuel
Mamza and Usman A isam i of the State Department of
fisheries assisted as weekly enumerators for the period
of 12 months. We gratefully acknowledge their
painstaking effort.
REFERENCES
Ayeni, J. S. 0 ( 1990) Fisheries Policies and Planning in
the Lake Chad Basin for the Rural LCBC Fisheries
activities Unpublished report on regional Seminar
on fisheries development, planning and
Management in the Lake Chad Conventional Basin.
Seminar, 8thj - 12th January 1990. Lake Chad basin
Commission, N'djamene, Chad Republic.
F.A.0 (1997) Technical guidelines for responsible
fisheries. F. A. 0 Fisheries Department, Inland
Fisheries No 6 Rome 36pp.
Maembe,I. W and A Gubio (1981) Report on a visit to
Jos, Enugu and Onitsha processed fish markets field
documents. F. A. 0 (ROME), Fisheries Department
Neiland, A. E, M. T Sarch, S Madakan, B.M.B Ladu S.
Jaffry and S Cunnignham, 1994 A socio-economic
ananlysis of Artisanal fisheries in North East
Nigeria. CEMARE Report 26th - 1994 . 256p
Neiland, A. E. B. Garrod and S. Jaffry, 1996 Fisheries
Information Monitioring System for N.E Nigeria
FIMS) Traditional Management of Artsenal
Fisheries in N. E. Nigerian(TMAF) Quarterly report.
December 1995 - March, 1996.
Nei land, A. E, M. T Sarch, Sp. Madakan ,13. M. B Ladu
and S. Jaffry (1997) Characterization of the inland
fisheries of N.E Nigeria including the Upper River
Benue, Lake Chad and Nguru - Gashua Wetlands.
neiland,A.E ed, traditional Management of
Artisanal Fisheries. N. E. Nigerian Final report
CEMARE Rep. No 43 Portsmouth U. K University
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Marketing and distribution of fish from Lake Chad

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Marketing and distribution of fish from Lake Chad

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