Adoption of Improved Artisanal Fishing Innovations among Fisherfolks in Delta State, Nigeria

Innovations in artisanal fishing are indispensable and help artisanal fishermen to increase their harvest. The study examined the extent of adoption of artisanal fishing innovations among artisanal fisherfolks in Delta State, Nigeria. Data for the study were obtained through the interview schedules from 120 household heads of artisanal fishermen. Percentages, mean and exploratory factor analysis were used in analyzing the data. The study revealed that synthetic fishing nets (? = 4.0); smoking kilns (? = 4.0), post-harvest processing techniques (? = 4.0), and mending of synthetic fishing nets (? = 4.0) had higher adoption scores when compared to other innovations. A majority (65.8%) of the respondents were males and married (68.1%) with a mean age of 45.7 years. Findings also show that the majority (72.4%) of the artisanal fisherfolks had between 11 – 40 years of experience in artisanal fishing. The major constraints to the adoption of innovation in artisanal fishing include family problems, environmental problems, and extraneous problems. It is recommended that increased extension contacts and training should be done to guide, educate, and enhance the skills of artisanal fisherfolks for increased productivity and improved socio – economic wellbeing. Keywords: Artisanal Fishing, innovations, adoption