Dilemma of fishing communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, Bayelsa State of Nigeria: A clarion call for actions

The Niger Delta region has provided livelihoods for many individuals and communities through artisanal fisheries for generations till date. Evidence-based reports are invaluable to aid develop sustainable management strategies for the region. The Multidimensional Poverty Indices (MPI) was used to examine the extent of deprivations among the fishing communities in Southern Ijaw Local Government Area. Data were collected through structured questionnaires programmed in an android survey-based application (Kobo Toolbox). Purposive sampling technique was used to select five (5) fishing camps: Ikoromogbene, Ipirigbene, Okongbene, Ofinigbene and Ogilagbene, and snowballing approach was used to select eight (8) other communities: Oporoma, Ekowe, Angiama, Ayama, Nangiama, Onyoma, Opuama and Amasomma based on their fishing activities and history. A total number of 132 fisher folks were randomly interviewed from the 13 selected communities. Descriptive statistics was employed in the data analysis. The results showed gender parity among the fisher folks. The majority of respondents 56(42.42%) had secondary education as their highest academic attainment. Over 105(79.55%) were married, and have household sizes ranging from 6-10. Respondents were found to earn below the global poverty threshold of $2.50/person/day. The respondents' living conditions were characterized by limited financial resources, inadequate housing (mud/thatched), reliance on primitive energy sources (kerosene stove, firewood) and unimproved water and sanitation facilities resulting in high incidence of typhoid diseases outbreak among others. Income was basically utilized on carbohydrates rich diets, school fees and healthcare services. The fisher folks trekked an average of 4km to access these essential services. Lack of access road to the remote locations, water transportation system, poverty, and inadequate provisions of corporate social responsibility were perceived to be the major factors responsible for the multidimensional deprivations in the study area. To enhance livelihood standards, the study recommends collaborative approaches and policies between State and Non- State actors including local communities to effectively implement poverty reduction initiatives.