Cost And Returns Analysis Of Artisanal Fishing In Oguta Lga, Imo State, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper determined the cost and returns analysis in Artisanal fishing in Oguta local Government Area, Imo State, Nigeria. Multistage random sampling technique was used in the selection of communities, villages and respondents. The sample size was 100 artisanal fishers. Instrument of data collection was a well structured and pre-tested questionnaire. The result of the gross margin analysis showed that the gross revenue was N354, 530.00, gross variable cost was N160,667.23, total fixed cost was 32, 408.25 while the net returns was N161, 444.52. The constraints identified to impede artisanal fishing include the following among others’, high cost of fishing gears, irregular water pulse, and vegetative cover by water hyacinth and use of toxic chemical and dynamites. It is therefore recommended that government at all levels should as a matter of deliberate policy impose a higher subsidy in the fishing gears to make them not only available but also affordable by the resource poor artisanal fishers.

Keywords: Cost, Return, Artisanal, and Fishing.