Efficiency Status in Artisanal Fishing Amidst Overfishing, Pollution, and Infrastructure Development on Inland Water Fisheries in Nigeria

Abstract

Artisanal fishing is vital to Nigeria’s inland fisheries, contributing 80% of national fish production and supporting millions of livelihoods. However, overfishing, pollution, and infrastructure development threaten both technical efficiency and sustainability. This study examines the efficiency status of artisanal fishers in Rivers Niger and Benue, assessing socio-economic characteristics, efficiency determinants, and environmental constraints. A three-stage sampling method was used to select 235 artisanal fishing households across eight Local Government Areas (LGAs) in Kogi State, Nigeria. Data were collected through structured interviews, field observations, and focus group discussions. The Cobb-Douglas Stochastic Frontier Production Model estimated technical efficiency, while descriptive statistics analyzed fisher demographics and productivity patterns. Results show that River Benue fishers had a higher mean efficiency (0.785) than River Niger fishers (0.643). 33.9% of River Benue fishers operated above 90% efficiency, compared to 15.9% in River Niger, where over 25% recorded efficiency levels below 40%. Education significantly reduced inefficiency (β = -0.0458, p < 0.01), while traditional fishing methods among experienced fishers hindered efficiency (β = -0.774, p < 0.05). Mechanization exhibited mixed effects, with a positive but insignificant influence in River Niger (β = 0.1561, p > 0.05) and a negative effect in River Benue (β = -0.2755, p > 0.05), suggesting that improper mechanization can lead to inefficiencies through increased operational costs and overcapitalization. Environmental challenges, including water pollution, invasive species, and overfishing, exacerbated inefficiencies. The study highlights the urgent need to balance efficiency improvements with sustainability measures to ensure the resilience of Nigeria’s inland fisheries.