The fishery biostatistical data used in this study were obtained in the following ways:
field visits made to several fishing villages and fish landings in the six coastal (= marine) States;
examination of various coastal survey maps and some remote sensing data to obtain information on coastal topography;
collection and analysis of fishery data available in the archives of the FDF, the Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), the Fisheries Departments of the coastal (marine) States and River Basin Rural Development Authorities (RBRDA);
study of various reports concerning the artisanal fisheries as well as the inshore and offshore industrial fisheries; and
examination of the results of acoustic and fishing surveys.
During the period August 1980 and April 1985, the FAO consultant, assisted by national collaborators, also made on-the-spot observations on catches, catch rates and the structure of fishing units of the artisanal coastal inshore fisheries in Lagos, Cross River, Rivers and Bendel States. Between September 1980 and December 1985, the FDF made an attempt to compile information on fishing villages, fishing gears, number of fishing canoes (motorized and non-motorized), number of fishermen (part-time and full-time) in the creeks, estuaries and along the coast for all the coastal (= marine) States. The FDF also continued with the collection of nominal fish catches and other fishery data. The Nigerian Institute of Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR) undertook a programme of collecting biostatistical data on the small-scale artisanal fisheries and sampled the catch of industrial fleets based at Lagos.
Field visits provided biostatistical information from the following fishing villages:
Lagos state: Epese, Epe, Yovoyan, Lekki and several langing jetties for trawlers based at Lagos;
Ogun State: Ode-Omi, Iwopin and Igbekki;
Ondo State: Orioke-Iwamimo, Ayietoro, Ajegunle and Igbokoda;
Bendel State: Oghere, Orere, Ogidigben, Koko, Burutu and Beniboye;
Rivers State: Oyorokoto, Elembekinkiri, Brass, Down Below/Opobo and Buoybobokiri;
Cross River State: Ikot Abasi, Iko, Okoroete, Kampa, Ebughu, Mbe Ndoro, Utan-Brama and Ibuno.
This study focuses on the magnitudes of demersal and pelagic fish species; examines the spatial and temporal distribution of fish communities; evaluates the biological productivity of Nigerian waters and fishing trends of artisanal and industrial fisheries; and describes the interaction between the various fisheries.
