Climate change poses significant threats to fisheries and aquaculture systems, particularly in developing regions where livelihoods depend heavily on climate-sensitive resources. This study examined perceptions of climate change and adaptation strategies among indigenous aquaculture practitioners in Southwestern Nigeria. A combination of purposive and snowball sampling techniques was used to select 200 respondents from major fishing communities in Ondo and Oyo States. Data were collected through structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis, and logistic regression models. The results revealed a high level of awareness of climate variability among respondents, with irregular rainfall (mean = 3.62), increased temperature (mean = 3.55), and flooding identified as key indicators of climate change. Major impacts reported included increased fish mortality, reduced growth performance, and damage to pond infrastructure. Adaptation strategies were largely autonomous, with water management practices (71%) and pond reinforcement (64%) being the most widely adopted measures. The study further found significant gender differences in access to credit, cooperative participation, and water management practices (p < 0.05). Logistic regression results indicated that education level, farming experience, access to credit, and cooperative membership significantly influenced adaptation decisions. The findings highlight that adaptive capacity is shaped not only by environmental factors but also by socio-economic conditions. Strengthening institutional support, improving access to finance, and promoting gender-responsive policies are essential for enhancing resilience in fisheries and aquaculture systems under climate change.

Food and fish consumption patterns is essential for addressing nutrition, food security, and sustainable livelihoods in Nigeria. This study examines the patterns of food and fish consumption in Nigeria, drawing insights from catfish consumption. in Ijare Town, Akure North Metropolis, Ondo State, Nigeria, with a specific focus on the gender dynamics influencing dietary behaviors and household food distribution. Through a combination of surveys, interviews, and direct observation, the research explores consumption frequency, cultural preferences, and socio-economic factors such as income, availability, and education. Findings indicate an equal gender representation among respondents (50% male, 50% female), predominantly aged 30–49 years (36.7%), with Christianity as the dominant religion (70%) and most participants being married (66.7%). All respondents had received some form of education, with traders forming the largest occupational group and students comprising 16.7%. Taste (50%) and nutritional value (30%) emerged as the primary motivations for catfish consumption, followed by price (13.3%) and availability (6.7%). Smoked catfish was the most preferred form (50%), and high protein content was the most cited nutritional benefit (83.3%), with fewer mentions of vitamins (6.7%), minerals (3.3%), and low-calorie content. Importantly, the study reveals significant gendered patterns in intra-household consumption. Fathers were identified as the primary consumers (46.7%), while mothers and children shared secondary consumption roles equally (26.5% each), suggesting disparities in food allocation and preference shaped by traditional gender roles. This gendered consumption hierarchy underscores broader societal norms regarding food access, control, and nutritional prioritization within households. By highlighting both the cultural and gendered dimensions of catfish consumption, the findings enhance our understanding of the complex social and gendered dimensions of dietary practices in the community. It emphasizes the importance of incorporating gender-sensitive approaches in nutritional education, food marketing, and sustainable dietary interventions.

Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) production and distribution play a crucial role in providing essential animal protein and socio-economic benefits that support growth and development in riverine communities. This study examines the tilapia value chain (TVC) in Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria, using a multistage sampling approach. A total of 195 actors were selected, including 3 fish seed producers, 3 feed suppliers, 3 grow-out tilapia farmers, 25 fish processors, 30 wholesalers, 30 retailers, and 101 consumers, with data collected via structured questionnaires. Results show that fish processing is primarily driven by women, with the majority of processors aged between 31 and 40 years. Likewise, fish marketing is predominantly managed by women, most of whom fall within the 41 to 50 age range. A considerable number of processors are members of cooperatives, work part-time, and rely on charcoal for smoking fish. Among fish marketers both wholesalers and retailers, 52.0% fund their businesses through personal savings, and 73.3% source fish directly from farmers. Additionally, 56.7% employ paid labor, and 66.7% operate within local markets. Gender roles are clearly defined along the value chain revealing that women mainly handle pre-processing activities such as washing, descaling, and degutting, while men dominate fish seed production, feed supply, and grow-out tilapia farming. Fish transportation is exclusively undertaken by men, whereas both men and women are involved in fish folding and sticking. Notably, there is no record of farmed tilapia being exported. Key challenges facing the sector include the high cost of processing equipment and fuel/charcoal, poor fish quality, and limited market information, all of which hinder effective fish processing and marketing. Furthermore, the high cost of fish feed remains a major constraint for fish seed producers, feed suppliers, and grow-out farmers.

Africa is particularly affected by climate change due to its exposure to climate hazards, high vulnerability, and low adaptive capacity. Yet, Africa is also a continent rich in Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) that has a long history of informing responses to climatic variability and change. This paper explores the extent to which ILK has been used in climate change adaptation in Africa. It deploys a bibliometric analysis to describe the connections between ILK and climatic change adaptation in Africa, complemented by an analysis of ILK literature and case studies. We consider four key dimensions of ILK, 1) type, 2) contexts of application, 3) value for adaptation, and 4) outcomes and effects in responses to climate change in Africa. Examples drawn from 19 countries across Africa highlight ILK systems are closely connected with biocultural relationships associated with observed patterns of climate change and where adaptation can be more effective when informed by ILK. This body of knowledge is critical to the delivery of climate change adaptation in Africa. The paper suggests some measures through which ILK may be more widely leveraged, both for improved adaptation outcomes, as well as enhancing the biocultural heritage value of ILK systems across Africa. The study commends the remarkable value of ILK in Africa for climate change adaptation and its value for supplementing climate services, particularly in areas with limited access to modern climate and weather forecasts as well as the encouragement of Indigenous communities to develop senses of ownership and active contribution to the sustainability of the future interventions.

Climate change is one of the major challenges societies round the world face at present. Apart from efforts to achieve a reduction of emissions of greenhouse gases so as to mitigate the problem, there is a perceived need for adaptation initiatives urgently. Ecosystems are known to play an important role in climate change adaptation processes, since some of the services they provide, may reduce the impacts of extreme events and disturbance, such as wildfires, floods, and droughts. This role is especially important in regions vulnerable to climate change such as the African continent, whose adaptation capacity is limited by many geographic and socio-economic constraints. In Africa, interventions aimed at enhancing ecosystem services may play a key role in supporting climate change adaptation efforts. In order to shed some light on this aspect, this paper reviews the role of ecosystems services and investigates how they are being influenced by climate change in Africa. It contains a set of case studies from a sample of African countries, which serve the purpose to demonstrate the damages incurred, and how such damages disrupt ecosystem services. Based on the data gathered, some measures which may assist in fostering the cause of ecosystems services are listed, so as to cater for a better protection of some of the endangered Africa ecosystems, and the services they provide.

This chapter examined the effects of climate variability on fishing activities in inland waters: the case of Owena River in Ondo and Osun States, Nigeria. The particular inland water body (Owena) was selected purposively because the Owena River crosses across the two States (Ondo and Osun States). A total of 100 respondents/fisher folks were selected randomly. Primary data was used to get information from the respondents with the aid of the structured questionnaire. Secondary data was used to get information on the climate variability existing in the locations in order to achieve the set objectives. Specifically, the effects of climatic variables such as temperature, rainfall, and wind were determined on fisher folk, fishing duration, fish catch, fishing techniques, and fishing equipment/gears. Descriptive survey design was used to examine the demographic characteristics of respondents. The result revealed that most of the respondents (96%) were male. This chapter established that climate variability particularly strong wind, rainfall, and temperature has adverse effects on fishing activities such as reduction in fish catch, long duration of fishing, loss of fishing gear, change in fishing techniques, and effect on health; hence, the livelihoods of the residence are adversely affected on the long run. In addition to the adverse effect of poverty and loss of life for the fisher folks. Although, the fisher folks livelihoods depend mainly on fisheries resources and optimum fishing depends on favorable climate/weather conditions. Therefore, proper preventive coping strategies against the adverse effect of climate variables should be paramount in both States (Ondo and Ekiti) to improve livelihoods and food security.

There is need to assess household preference level for sustainable clean cooking energy such as biofuel gel to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 7 of affordable and sustainable clean energy. The study determines the factors affecting respondents’ awareness, identified factors influencing the preference level and factors influencing respondents’ willingness to pay for biofuel gel in Nigeria. Data were obtained from one hundred and eighty biofuel gel users and one hundred and eighty non-users leading to a total of three hundred and sixty respondents’ through a multi-stage sampling technique. Descriptive statistics, 5-likert scale type, probit regression model, tobit regression model and double-bound logit were used to analyze the data collected. The result of the probit regression model revealed that age, years of consumption of biofuel gel, marital status, knowledge of renewable energy and familiarity with greenhouse gas were the variables affecting the respondents’ awareness of biofuel gel. The tobit regression model result revealed that years of consumption of biofuel gel, household size and price of biofuel gel, income, familiarity with climate change and gender were the variables influencing the preference level of biofuel gel. The result of the double-bound logit revealed that bid amount, years of education, household size, income and awareness of biofuel gel were variables influencing the respondents’ willingness to pay for biofuel gel in the study area. The study recommends that government at all levels should sensitize the households on the usage of biofuel gel in Nigeria to achieve goal seven of SDGs.

This study examined gender participation in fisheries and sustainable livelihood in the coastal areas of Ondo State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents and the study area. Data were collected from 100 fisher folks from Ilaje and Ese-Odo Local Government Areas (LGAs), using a well-structured questionnaire and interview schedule. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Kruskal Wallis test (KWt) was used to determine the level of livelihood diversification among the fisher folks. The most prominent roles of men in the study area are fishing both offshore and inshore (66%), boat owners (61%), and gear preparation (56%). On the other hand, the participation of women in fisheries is mostly sorting of fish caught (81%), salting for processing (79%), washing of fish and fishing gears (69%), and smoking (66%). Women also dominate fish distribution and marketing activities which include transporting of fish from home to the market place, display and bargaining. The result of the Kruskal Wallis test (KWt) revealed that the main occupation of the different groups is fishing, where the married class was the most predominant group. For gender, fishing remains the most engaged main occupation with more male than female at 0.01 level of significance. Key words: Sustainable Livelihood, Fisheries and Gender

A survey approach was applied to examine the technical characteristics of fish farming practice in Egypt and Nigeria. Critical issues such as floods and other vices were considered in bringing out the inference and level of aquaculture in both countries. Multistage sampling technique was used to select the study area and the number of respondents. Both primary and secondary data were used in the analysis. Eighty fish farmers were randomly selected from each of the country, making a total of 160 respondents. The socioeconomic characteristics revealed that aquaculture is an antique venture in Africa with Egypt taking the lead, i.e., 99% of the respondents practice in large-scales production of more than 11 Fadden/acre per, and 100% males depend mainly on agricultural drainage water for their earthen ponds. Ninety-eight percent cultured tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) which was believed to have originated from the Nile River. In terms of financial performance and partial economic analysis, tilapia production commands more sales in Egypt, while catfish (Clarias) production is seen as a promising venture in Nigeria. The fish farmers have various perceptions and reactions toward environmental changes factors such as cost of labor/manpower and inputs, poor water quality, and fish extension services, and climate change impedes aquaculture development in the countries. To achieve the scale of aquaculture expansion as observed in Asian and other developed part of the world, efforts should be geared toward continental and regional integration in order to encourage aquaculture practices in Nigeria and other parts of Africa. More so, government intervention and incentives should be paramount in Egypt to reduce the excessive exploitation of the private input suppliers.

Perception is the bed rock to really apprehend the assertiveness and interpretations of the farmers which are the grass root receptors or benefactors of the effects of climate change. Individual perception and knowledge on climate change varies according to geographical location, occupation, political and socio-economics, ecological, cultural background of the entity. Empirical observations and climate models both indicate that global climate and ocean conditions have been changing over the last 100 years and will likely change more rapidly in the future. Fish production and supply in Africa could not meet up with the demand of the consumers as a result of financial constraints, low capital investment, high cost of fish stocking and feeding, dry season, pollution and climate change. This research therefore, assesses the fish farmers’ perceptions, impacts and adaptation on/of/to climate change in Africa, using Egypt and Nigeria as archetypal examples. It also annotates the precautionary measures taken by the fish farmers to ameliorate the negative impacts of climate change in the continent. KoboCollect method was used to design relevant questions and analyzed the fish farmers’ responses. The results revealed that climate change has both positive and negative impacts on African aquaculture and it is believe that aquaculture is a way of adapting to the adverse effect of climate change on fisheries. 93% of the fish farmers in Africa have the ideal of climate change, 64% believe that the change will linger and persevere in the next 10–20 years. In Nigeria, 61% of the respondents relied on stream and river while in Egypt, 99% of the fish farmers cultured their fish on earthen ponds and depend on the use of agricultural drainage water. Fish production could not meet up with the demand of the consumers in Nigeria as a result of pending constraints unlike Egypt which has achieved the scale of aquaculture expansion compare to other African countries. It is therefore, expedient that efforts should be geared towards regional and continental integration in order to encourage aquaculture practices in other part of Africa and climate change investment should be encouraged.

This paper assessed socio-economic Status of Key Actors in fish production and Value Chain Strategies for food security in Ondo State Coastal Areas, Nigeria. Specifically, it examined the socioeconomic characteristics of the key actors (fishermen, fish processors and fish-marketers), Value chain strategies (production, harvesting, processing and marketing) and challenges in the study area. Both primary and secondary data were used. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Gross Margin analysis was used to determine the profitability levels. The result shows that most of the actors (67%) were between the active ages of 20-45 years.89% of the respondents/actors were married, 44% had above primary school education, All the actors (100%) had fishing experience of 10 years and above. Value chain strategies observed in the area include fortification of fishing gears, changing the time of fishing (early morning and night), 67% had no form of fish preservation while the rest 33% preserve their fish traditionally. The market suffers from several constraints, especially the high cost and variable supply of products, Poor market price of fish and fish products. It is therefore recommended that the concept of value chain should be incorporated with fish production at the artisanal level to avoid fish spoilage and wastage hence, increased profitability, food security and sustainability.

This study was carried out to assess the livelihood diversification and operational techniques of the artisanal fisherfolks in the coastal region of Ondo state, Nigeria. Both secondary and primary data were used. A multistage sampling techniques was used to select 400 respondents from Ilaje and Ese-Odo LGAs, these LGAs were purposively selected because they fall within the core coast of the state which is about 180km. Descriptive statistics was used to analyse the socioeconomic characteristics and operational techniques of the respondents. Cronoba alpha(α) was also employed to test the sufficiency of the survey instruments. Analysis showed that 82% of the respondents were married, majority of the respondents (67%) were males while others (33%) were females. The operational techniques for fishing occupation reveals that 85% of the respondents make use of dugout canoe to carry out their fishing, 10% of the respondents make use of motorized canoe to carry out their fishing activities. The fish capturing techniques employed in the study area include active and passive methods. The married class is the most predominant group in the fishing business and this result is significant (p 2 is 246.5 and highly significant (p<0.01) it implies that the level of livelihood diversification is significant in terms of gender. Returned Cronbach of 0.74 for items with means of 4617.3 and zero variance, implies a great deal of sufficiency. It is therefore recommended that the artisanal fisher folks should be encouraged to imbibe aquaculture practices in their community to augument their natural catch hence, increase diversification in livelihood.

The study was carried out in the coastal region of Ondo –State, Nigeria. A multistage sampling technique was used to select the respondents. Two LGAs, namely, Ilaje and Ese-Odo were purposively selected because they fall within the coastal region of the state. At the second stage, ten towns/villages were randomly selected from each LGA. At the third stage, 20 respondents were also selected from each of the villages/towns, making a total of 400 respondents. Data were collected using well structured questionnaire, interview schedule and Focus Group Discussion (FGD), which were administered on the respondents. The result of the socioeconomic characteristics of the fisherfolks with respect to age revealed that most of the fisherfolks were within the working age group of 31 – 60 years and this amounted to 68.75% while 84.0% of the fisherfolks were married. The percentage of the male were 67.25% while the female were 32.75%. The household size of (1-5) members recorded the highest (56.75%). 96.25% had one form of education or the other while only 3.5% had no formal education while 90.0% of the fisherfolks had no additional qualification. Most of the fisherfolks were Christians (82.75%), 76.25% took fishing as their major occupation while 48.25% were not involved in any other occupation. The fisherfolks that had fishing experience of (11 – 20) years amounted to be 34.0%. most of the fisherfolks (43.75%) got their inputs from the markets and are rightful owners of their inputs. 85% of the fisherfolks made used of dugout canoe to carry out their fishing activities while 60% of the fisherfolks made used of the active methods of fishing. Keywords: socioeconomic, characteristics, artisanal, fisherfolks, coastal region

INTRODUCTION •Fisheries represent an important part of the world’s economy. •In Nigeria, like other parts of the world, inland and coastal fisheries and related fish processing and trading provide full or part time employment for between 6 and 9 million people in African, Nigeria inclusive (CBN, 2004) •Fish is a major source of animal protein and an essential food item in the diet of many Nigerians, being relatively cheaper than meat. •Much of the fish consumed consists of cheap species such as Sardinella, Bonga, Moonfish, Ilisha, catfish and Tilapia. •Many fish farms focus on catfish, as they can have a market value of two to three times that of tilapia (F.A.O 2005). • Catfishes of the family Claridae comprise the most commonly cultivated fishes in Nigeria. • The growth of aquaculture in Nigeria now is largely being boosted by a steady rise in catfish culture. •The favoured catfish species in Nigeria aquaculture include: Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus bidorsalis, Clarias X Heterobranchus hybrid (Heteroclarias) and Clarias nigrodigitatus. Heterobranchus sp. •Statistics indicate that Nigeria is the largest African aquaculture producer, with production output of over 15,489 tonnes per annum, which constitutes about 4% of the nation’s agricultural G.D.P. OBJECTIVES: This work assess the perception of catfish farmers on climate change and estimate the contribution of catfish production to household income in Lagos State, Nigeria. Specifically, it: • describes the socio-economic characteristics of catfish farmers in Lagos State, • examine the factors that affect catfish production, •estimate the cost and returns relationship involved in catfish farming, and •identify the major constraints facing fish farming in Lagos State. METHOD