Digital Extension, Climate Information Access, and Livelihood Resilience in Nigerian Fisheries and Aquaculture: A Review and Integrated Framework for Sustainable Development

Abstract

Fisheries and aquaculture contribute to food security, employment, income generation, and livelihood sustainability in Nigeria. However, climate variability, environmental degradation, inadequate extension services, limited market information, and financial constraints can undermine production efficiency and the resilience of fishing and aquaculture households. Digital technologies offer opportunities to improve the delivery of extension services, facilitate access to climate information, strengthen production management, and connect producers with markets. Nevertheless, their effectiveness depends on affordability, digital literacy, infrastructure, information quality, and institutional support. This study reviews literature on digital extension, climate information access, fisheries and aquaculture management, digital learning, market participation, and livelihood resilience, drawing on relevant publications from the supplied reference collection and established international sources. A narrative review and thematic synthesis approach was adopted to identify relationships among digital access, information utilization, adaptive capacity, enterprise performance, and livelihood outcomes. The reviewed literature highlights five interconnected dimensions: digital information and extension delivery; climate adaptation and livelihood diversification; aquaculture productivity and resource-use efficiency; market access and enterprise development; and environmental sustainability and institutional support. An integrated conceptual framework is proposed in which digital access supports knowledge acquisition, but its translation into improved production and livelihood outcomes depends on complementary financial, technical, and institutional resources. The review further identifies research opportunities in digital inclusion, climate-smart fisheries management, supply-chain information systems, and the evaluation of digital extension outcomes. It concludes that digital technologies should complement community-based extension, practical training, market development, and environmental governance rather than operate as isolated interventions. The findings provide a literature-informed foundation for policy development and future empirical research on sustainable fisheries and aquaculture in Nigeria.