ABSTRACT

Fishing forms a major activity and the source of livelihood among communities dotted along the Bambalang village. It is undertaken on a small scale, artisanal basis, leading to low returns and inability to break out of the poverty trap. The major players in the artisanal fishing, namely, fishermen, processors and mongers experience a wide range of challenges which make it difficult for them to make ends meet and provide for themselves and their dependents. The research examines the artisanal fishing and livelihoods along the river in the Bambalang village. The study also examine livelihood activities of the key people involved in artisanal fishing and how their positions along the fish production value-chain affected their wellbeing.

Both qualitative and quantitative analytical procedures is use.  The general characteristics of the fisher groups is examining. Various hazards, constraints and fishing methods is investigated.  A combination of stratified random sampling and purposive sampling techniques is use to select a total of 75 respondents from four different villages in Bambalang. Methods of data collection included questionnaires, focused group discussions, and direct observation. Difficulty in acquiring hired labor accounted for the use of child labor. Smoking was the most common mode of processing fish. Poor saving habit was identified among the fishers. Both short and long term measures were put forward for improving the livelihood situation of the fishers. The Government should also play a major role through financial and technical assistance in improving livelihood conditions of the fishers. Finally, the Fishery Law must have been forced with the full participation of the fishers. This will ensure sustainability of the fishermen in Bambalang village.

CHAPTER ONE

GENERAL INTRODUCTION

• . Context to the Study

Artisanal fisheries are small-scale fisheries where fishers use traditional fishing techniques and small boats for the sake of subsistence living and to meet the demands of small local markets (Freire & Garcia 2000). The term is used interchangeably with the scale fishery, and sometime considered as a subset of ‘small scale’ (Demuynck, 2021). The artisanal fisheries, particularly in developed nations, are vital to livelihoods and food security to local communities. In comparison, artisanal and commercial fisheries amass the similar amount of fishes for human consumption in World. yet  small-scale fisheries employ 25 times the number of  fishers (over 12 million people) and use an eighth of  the amount of fuel used by industrial fisheries  (Jacquet & Pauly, 2008). Artisanal fisheries significantly contribute to the livelihoods of millions of households (FAO, 2020). About half of the global annual marine catch stems from artisanal fisheries. Further to this, more than 120 million people worldwide depend directly on artisanal fisheries and fisheries-related activities (FAO, 2020).About 47 million of these people reside in developed countries. Artisanal fishers and local coastal communities depend on the ocean and coastal ecosystem for their livelihoods (Cohen et  al., 2019; Winfield, 2019). Artisanal fishers account for more than half of the total global fishery output, and continue to be among the most marginalized groups (Spencer, 2021). The general characteristics of artisanal fisheries are: use of a relatively simple technology, labor-intensive, small groups of operators, low capital inputs, marketing and distribution handled by intermediaries (Berkes et al., 2001). In 2012, international trade represented 37 percent of the total fish production in value, with a total export value of 129 billion United States dollars, of which 70 billion dollars constituted developing countries’ exports (FAO, 2014). Estimates indicate that small-scale fisheries contribute about half of global fish catches (FAO, 2014; HLPE, 2014). When considering catches destined for direct human consumption, the share contributed by the subsector increases, as small-scale fisheries generally make broader direct and indirect contributions to food security through affordable fish and employment to populations in developing countries. However, they are the predominant fishery in tropical developing countries (Berkes et al., 2001).

Furthermore in Africa, households of artisanal fishers in developing countries are characterized by persistent poverty and food insecurity (FAO, 2020c). Yet, they are underestimated, uncounted, and lack the required recognition in policies and plans. In some places, they are hidden in national fishery statistics (Zelasney et al.,2020; Teh al., 2020). As such, in many developing countries, there is inadequate empirical information concerning the position of artisanal fisheries in household livelihoods (Béné & Friend, 2011; Teh et al., 2020). Thus, it is crucial to guarantee artisanal fisheries an equal economic, political, and physical involvement in the  economy. The blue economy will only contribute towards sustainable development goals when the social dimensions and specific characteristics of artisanal fisheries are addressed and considered closely (Ayilu et al., 2022). An obvious expectation is that artisanal fisheries would contribute to fishers’ household livelihoods through increased income, social services, housing conditions, savings, and access to valuable assets.

In Ndop central subdivision artisanal fishery plays an important role in the national economy. It provides employment, income, and is a major source of protein (Ochiewo, 2021). Generally in Cameroon and Ndop subdivision in particular the coastal artisanal fishers use the traditional dug-out canoes or pirogue ranging from 3–18 meters in length while the gears used include cast nets, handlings, basket traps, long lines, set gillnets and beach and purse seines. The operating range of small-scale fisheries is around the 20 meters depth contour, with operations extending occasionally to a maximum depth of 40 meters (Gnanadoss and Aderounmu, 1982). In fact, artisanal fisheries include coastal, brackish water and all inland fishery sources such as rivers, reservoirs, dams, lakes, lagoons, as well as the floodplains of Ndop Subdivision and other major rivers.

The capacity of artisanal fisheries to play its triple role of a food supplier, employment provider and income earning in the Cameroon economy depends on the adoption of appropriate management strategies that will ensure their sustainability in the face of intense fishing pressure. The objectives of this study is to evaluate the socioeconomic characteristics  of artisanal fishing in the area, determine the costs and returns in artisanal fishing as well as, identify and quantify socio-economic factors that determine output in artisanal fishing, The identification of socio-economic variables that are crucial to the exploitation of common in scale fishing and provide a framework for their sust noainable management in Ndop central Subdivision. Furthermore, it will enable small-scale fishers to make rational production decisions that will affect the profitability of their operations.

1.2 Statement of problem

With respect to the history of the Ndop plain, artisanal fishing extension use approach portrays that, the government of Cameroon has been adopting and implementing different types of extension approaches to boost fishing production across the Ndop subdivision. However, productivity and production of fishing to the which is one of the main activities in Ndop has not been well improved to the livelihood of Ndop for decades rather it declines continuously. Most of the extension approaches employed by the government extension programmes are not participatory but top down in many matters. Fisher-men during the implementation of extension program have no room to participate in extension policy. They are mostly considered as information receivers  not information providers to the extension workers and researchers. This is seen when it comes to including needs and priorities in the system. Information flow is vertical from only one direction, which is from the researchers/extension workers to the fisher-men that ultimately affect knowledge sharing between the end users of technologies and researchers. In the absence of information exchange directed towards the Fisher-men who produce fish released technologies to them, how can one evaluate the released technologies are effective or not? Traditionally, the link between extension and research with Fisher-men at the centre of technology generation has been overlooked for the last decades. This has been reflected on the continuous reduction in fish production.

1.3 Research questions

1.3.1 The main research question

What is artisana fishing activities and it contribution to livelihood in Ndop subdivision?

1.3.2 Specific research questions

1 What is the contribution or impact of artisanal fishing to Livelihood in Ndop Subdivision?

2 What are the challenges of artisanal fishing in Ndop sub division?

3 What are the mitigation strategies?

1.4 Research Objectives

1.4.1 The main research objective

To investigate the contribution of artisanal fishing activities in Ndop sub division.

1.4.2 Specific objectives

1 To identify the challenges faced in artisanal fishing in Ndop central sub division.

2 To sort the mitigation measures fishing problems in Ndop sub division.

1.5.1 Research hypothesis

1.5.2 The main research hypothesis

There exists no contribution of Artisanal fishing activities in Ndop Subdivision .

1.5.2 Specific Hypothesis

1 Artisanal fishing has a significant impact to the economy of Ndop central sub division.

2 There are a series of challenges affecting Artisanal fishing in Ndop central Subdivision

3 There are a mitigation measures to sought out the problems of artisanal fishing in Ndop.