Research Article
Fisheries Survey in Cross River State, Nigeria
Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar, PMB, 115, Calabar, Nigeria
Francis M. Nwosu
Institute of Oceanography, University of Calabar, PMB, 115, Calabar, Nigeria
Frame survey is an important component of fishery investigations. It provides an inventory of basis characteristics of the fisheries industry including number and distribution of fishing villages and landing sites, number of canoes or fishing units, number of fishermen among others (FAO, 1980). These statistical data are needed for stock assessment and regulation of the fisheries. Enin et al. (1997) and Holzlöhner et al. (1998, 2002, 2004) performed 1996-1999 a comprehensive fisheries and mangrove survey in the inner Cross River estuary and on the West coast of the outer estuary. The comparison of the mangrove with the socio-economic (fisheries) data permitted revealing conclusions. Such surveys are needed to derive scenarios for future development including the impact of and adaptations to the climate change.
The presented fisheries survey is a component of the Integrated Mangrove Forest Management (IMFORM) initiative, a 5 year socio-economic project of the NGO Concern Universal (CU), funded by the European Union with additional Irish Aid support. This project covers five LGAs in Cross River State whose communities are living in and/or around the mangrove forest ecosystem. The area incorporates the Cross River State Mangrove Forest Reserve. The project is managed by CU in collaboration with a consortium of other Cross River State civil society groups and public sector stakeholders including the Institute of Oceanography of University of Calabar. The project started on December 1, 2008.
MATERIALS AND METHOD
Fisheries data and information as part of the socio-economic survey were sampled in Odukpani, Calabar South, Calabar Municipality, Akpabio and New Bakassi LGAs in 2009. The communities include Idua Inwang, Akwa Obutong, Edik Okon Idem and Ifiang Oyong in New Bakassi LGA, Okoho Ananwka, Esuk Atu, Esuk Anantigha, Duke Town, Cobham Town and Edibe-edibe in Calabar South/Municipality LGAs, Esuk Idebe Offong Umoh in Akpabuyo LGA as well as Ekpene Eki, Esuk Akim Akim and Mbombori in Odukpani LGA.
The main source was discussions with fisher groups in order to gather information on number of boats, catch objects, fishing gears and methods, fish processing and trade. We usually divided the survey team in two groups; for fishery and for the other aspects of the socio-economic survey. So far, as we had access to the landings, species identification and estimation of the quantity of catch were done and photographs of catches and fishing gears taken.
Fishing boats and gears/methods: We observed during the survey, especially in the LGAs Calabar South and Calabar Municipality that many canoes were in a bad state due to age. During our socio-economic fisheries survey 1996-1999 (Holzlöhner et al., 1998, 2004), we observed more dugouts than plank boats at least relating to the typical small canoe for driftnet, long line and other passive fisheries (Fig. 1). In our recent survey in 2009, more canoes were constructed from planks. The main reason for this change is doubtless, the decreasing availability and increasing price of tree stems for constructing dugouts. By information in the village Idua Inwang, the price for a small plank canoe is now 7,000-30,000 N depending on the quality of the planks. The Chief of Duke Town asked us for assistance in improvement of the fisheries technique. Really needed is replacement of old and already decomposed boats. The number of boats was about 50 some time ago and has reduced to about 20 in the meantime (Table 1).
In the large villages in the LGAs New Bakassi and Akpabio, there are three sizes of canoes; small with 2 crew members, medium-sized for 7 crew members and large with 10-15 crew members.
Table 1: | Number of boats and main fishing gears in representative survey communities* |
*Additionally was common in all surveyed villages the method of picking of periwinkles by women |
Fig. 1: | Construction of a small canoe (dugout) from a tree using fire and water |
The main fishing method for the small canoes is gillnetting on surface-near juvenile bonga (ekpai) as well as on croaker and other demersal and semi-demersal species (Fig. 2), applied are also cast nets, traps (Fig. 3) and hook and line (Fig. 4). The medium-sized boats operate mainly the anchor net (Fig. 5) for catch of estuarine shrimp (Nematopalaemon hastatus); also boat seines are used for bonga (Fig. 6) and other fish species as well as shrimps (Fig. 7). The large boats are specialized in purse-seining on adult bonga (ibat) mainly in the coastal waters and in March/April additionally in the outer Cross River estuary (Fig. 8).
Fig. 2: | Sometimes we meet women as active fishers in the drift net fishery on bonga and semi-demersal species |
Fig. 3: | Trap for catch of shrimps of the genus Macrobrachium |
Fig. 4: | Canoe with long line ready for catch of predator species, mainly estuarine catfish, Chrysichthys nigridigitatus |
Fig. 5: | Anchor net for catch of estuarine shrimp (Nematopalaemon hastatus) |
Fig. 6: | Handling a boat seine for catch of bonga, Ethmalosa fimbriata |
Fig. 7: | Fishing with boat seine on shrimps of the genus Macrobrachium and post larval stages of Penaeus |
Fig. 8: | Purse seine fishery on schools of bonga, Ethmalosa fimbriata |
Expedition fishery is common with these large canoes. The fishermen remain for weeks outside the village nearer to the seasonal fishing grounds and sleep in guest houses/huts or in the boats.
The catch-per-unit effort (cpue)-catch/boat/day was estimated for the small canoes with 5 kg for the medium-sized canoes 15 kg and for the large purse seine canoes more than 100 kg.
During our former fishing village survey (Enin et al., 1997; Holzlöhner et al., 1998) was found out a significant correlation between the number of canoes and the number of fishermen in the village, with the equation: y = 3.89x-19.53, where x is the No. of canoes and y is the No. of fishermen based on 55 surveyed fishing villages/settlements.
If each man is fisher and oil palm-dominated farmer as we found out in Isuk Idebe Offong Umoh in Akpabio LGA, then there is a way to estimate from the number of boats the entire population in the village using the family size from the household transect survey. In Akwa Obutong, New Bakassi LGA the people were specialized on one profession. There are about 700 fishers, 200 farmers, 50 carpenters (boats builders), 30 hunters, 10 honey samplers, 5 wood cutters and about 500 fish traders (most of the village women).
In all surveyed villages drift gill net fishery was dominant. During the season on juvenile bonga from November/December to April/May, the canoes are utilized in good fishing periods for a fishing trip each tide, twice per day (two tides = 24 h+about 40 min); that means, the fishermen depart and return each day at another time. They work during the bonga season in shifts. During the bonga season, there are typically bad periods of catches or target fishery on bottom/semi-pelagic species because of market factors. Outside the bonga-season, usually is performed only one trip per day (two tides-period). Apart from paddle and sail, the periodically changing tidal currents are used to reach the catch site. During the catch process, only the tidal currents are used that means the canoes and their driftnets in catch position drift with the tidal current to and back. Usually three to four sets in dependence from the reached catches are done during one trip.
Fish processing/marketing: There is no fish processing (smoke-drying) in all surveyed villages in Calabar South and Calabar Municipality LGA. All catches are sold fresh on own small fish markets at the landing site. In the communities in New Bakassi and Akpabio LGA processing by smoke-drying is present. However, in connection with road and boat transport possibilities to Calabar, a large part of the catch is sold fresh. For instance, fresh fish is brought from the villages in New Bakassi LGA per boat to the fish market in Ikang from where fish traders transfer it per car to Calabar. Also the landing site at Atimbo bridge is used. The inhabitants of the large fishing village Akwa Obutong in Bakassi LGA bring fresh catch per bike to Ikang market. They asked for assistance to expand the bike path to a road for cars. The Fishermen during expedition fishery smoke-dry their catch in strange fishing villages or on suitable beach sites.
Some women in Akwa Obutong are specialized on the processing of periwinkles and land snails. To maintain the quality, the sampled periwinkles or land snails are put in water for transport to the processing units in the village. After boiling, the women use needles to separate the snail bodies from the shells. The snail bodies are stored in water. Inside latest 24 h, the processed periwinkles and land snails have to reach the final market. The shells are sold as component to produce concrete.
Fish and shrimp smoke-drying needs a lot of fire wood which source are usually the mangrove trees. Although, the large fishing villages in Akpabio and New Bakassi LGA in comparison with the fishing villages at the West coast of the Cross River estuary (Akwa Ibom State) smoke-dry only a part of their catch and the mangrove forest is not so over-used by human activities in the discussion with the fishermen came also the question, Why the ways to reach mangrove wood become longer? Also, in the survey region is needed to reduce the utilization of mangrove trees and use the nipa palm, the old fruits are a good source for smoke-drying.
Income: During the discussions in the large village Akwa Obutong near Ikang in New Bakassi LGA was mentioned an average income per fisher family and month of 40,000-50,000 N. From this amount are used 10,000-20,000 N for repair of nets and outboard engine. The cost for a medium-sized canoe is 50,000 N and the shelf life at least 10 years. There remains about 30,000 N per month and family for food, school fees, etc.
Most fish processing and marketing activities are carried out by women, usually wives to the fishermen that means most women in the communities are engaged in this profession. The income per person is very low because on most landing days only a small percentage of the women get work. It was reported a daily income per woman of 0-500 Naira, the mean is probably by 100 Naira.
In combination with other sources we can assess that the mangrove fishing villages in our survey region like all over the world belong to the lowest category of income, especially in villages where there is no basis for agriculture as additional source.
Socio-economic surveys including the fishery combined with mangroves surveys should be performed at least in 10 years intervals. They are the basis to derive scenarios for future development including the impact of climate change. In these scenarios are to integrate activities of men for protection and regulation of mangroves and estuarine/marine resources. A sound mangrove forest is in multiple ways the condition for the survival of the fishing villages and the wellbeing of their inhabitants. Without mangroves many villages are erosion endangered in connection with the climate-warming induced sea level rise. There are research results that a sound mangrove forest can compensate the sea level rise. Mangroves are the source of fire wood in the villages for processing of fish and shrimps and cooking as well as for building purposes. Mangroves help also to transfer nutrients to the estuary and coastal waters which will maintain the fish and invertebrate production.
Nipa palm utilization will provide an additional source of income especially for mangrove villages where is only fishery and no condition for oil palm dominated agriculture. Nipa palm utilization and mangrove planting which should be financed by the government will bring a lot of work, especially to jobless young people.
In the survey region is incorporated the Cross River State Mangrove Forest Reserve situated along the Cross River estuary between the mouths of Calabar and Great Kwa River. This reserve should be managed by the relevant scientific rules. The proposed Field Station of the Reserve (Holzlöhner, 2007) for enlightenment of the people, management the reserve and as basis for research of students and scientist of Nigerian and foreign institutions should be established.
We acknowledge the European Union and Ireland as funder and the NGO Concern Universal (CU) as implementer of the IMFORM project. We thank the NGO Concern Universal for integrating us in the fisheries survey.