DOI: 10.11648/j.rd.20260703.20 ISSN: 2994-7057

Assessment of the Extent of Compliance and Enforcement of Inland Fisheries Laws in Rivers State Senatorial, Nigeria

Uzoma Nwokoma, Darlington Nwokoma
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Fisheries laws and policies are made to ensure healthy and sustainable fishing practices and aquatic resources. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the extent of compliance, implementation and enforcement of existing inland fisheries laws and policies in fishing communities in Rivers State, Nigeria. A questionnaire was structured to get relevant responses from a total of two hundred and fifty fisher-folks in three senatorial zones (Rivers South-South, Rivers West and Rivers East) in Rivers State. The data generated from this study area was analysed using descriptive and inferential statistical methods. The laws and policies considered and their results were: Power to lease water (2.9±0.86), Licensing to fish (2.6±0.85), Registration of fisher folks and gears (2.9±0.89), Permits to fish with certified standard gears (2.7±0.85), Prohibition on use of explosive and chemicals (2.7±0.88), Prohibition on use of certain nets, cages, traps, fixed engines, except in private water bodies (2.7±0.0.92), Power to arrest (2.8±0.84), Power to penalties (2.7±0.87), Protection of the removal of certain species of fish (2.6+0.84), and Power on exposure on sale and marketing of fish (2.8±0.74). Means and standard deviations of implementation and enforcement of Inland Fisheries Laws were: Power to lease water (3.1±0.89), Licensing to fish (2.9+0.94), Registration of fisherfolks and gears (2.8±0.97), Permit to fish with certified standard gears (2.9±0.99), Prohibition on use of certain nets, cages, traps fixed engines except in private water bodies (2.9±0.79), Power to arrest (2.8+0.85), Power to penalties (2.8±0.85), Protection for removal of certain species of fish (2.7±0.85), Power on exposure to sale and marketing of fish (3.2±0.97) and Prohibition on use of barriers (4.3±0.89). The results indicate that compliance, implementation and enforcement of inland fisheries laws were relatively very low. Therefore, more awareness programmes, engagements, training sessions and incentives should be done for the fisher folks in these senatorial zones by the Local and State governments. Healthy and sustainable fishing practices are achieved where fisheries laws and policies are complied.

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