Fish Farming and Livelihood of Households in Coastal States in Nigeria

The economic livelihoods of coastal states are significantly influenced by the availability of natural resources, favorable environmental conditions, market-driven opportunities, and socio-cultural institutions. These interconnected factors collectively facilitate various economic activities, with fish farming and aquaculture representing key components of the coastal economy. Despite the natural endowments of Nigeria’s coastal regions, including abundant aquatic resources and a growing interest in aquaculture, many households continue to face persistent poverty, food insecurity, and economic vulnerability. These challenges have hindered the full realization of the sector’s potential, particularly in fish farming. The study, therefore, examined how the challenges faced in the aquaculture sector (fish farming) affect household livelihoods in coastal areas in Nigeria. The study made use of the Wave 4 (2018/2019) of the Living Standards Measurement Study-Integrated Survey on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA) to achieve the research objectives. Using the trend analysis, the study found that while Nigeria’s coastal regions are rich in aquatic resources, income from fishing is unevenly distributed, with states like Ondo and Akwa-Ibom outperforming traditionally dominant states such as Rivers and Bayelsa due to environmental challenges and limited participation in aquaculture. Education significantly enhances productivity and market engagement among fishing households, though access to education remains constrained by financial barriers. Health issues and vulnerability to shocks, though underreported, continue to threaten the sustainability of fishing livelihoods, highlighting the need for targeted policy interventions. The study recommended that to strengthen fishing livelihoods in Nigeria’s coastal states, the government should implement policies that focus on environmental restoration, expanding access to education and technical training, and improving healthcare and social protection for fishing households.