Economic impacts of oil and gas exploration on fish value chain in the Atlantic Coast of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria

Abstract

This study investigated the economic impacts of intense oil and gas exploration activities on the fish value chain in the Atlantic Coast of Nigeria, using the Eastern Obolo Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom State. Results show decreasing returns to input supplies, fish output, fish processing and marketing, as only income from fish and the selling of canoe witnessed an increase. Regression analysis reveals that crew size had a statistically significant effect on fish output/fish. Explanatory variables accounted for 51% of the variations in the fish output. The number of fishing trips, fishing technology, and years of fishing experience were found to be fish output inelastic whereas the number of fishing crew was output elastic. Returns to scale were 1.66 implying that there is room for an increase in fish output using the included variables.