Anthropogenic Characteristics of Fisherfolks at Asejire Lake, Oyo State Nigeria

Fisheries and aquaculture provides direct and indirect employment to over 3.5billion people worldwide (UNIFEM, 2008). In Nigeria, artisanal fishery occupies a significant position in the economy, contributing 4% of the total GDP, providing employment for about 5.8%, and supplying 81.9% of the total domestic fish production.

Asejire Lake is a 525ha manmade Lake on Osun river. It lies between longitude 4⁰ 85'E and 4⁰85'E and between latitude 7⁰21' N and 7⁰25'N of the equator. Though the lake was impounded for domestic water supply fishing activities take place on the lake. Twenty-five percent of registered fisher on the lake was randomly selected for this study.

The fishery is dominated by male (98%), age ranged between 15 and 70years, fishermen (81%) were in their active years. The modal (47%) educational level is primary, 3% had tertiary education and 10% non formal education. Fishers are full time. Fishing experience ranged between  6 – 40 years. Gears employed were gill net (56%), cast net (16%), traps (18%). Craft is unmotorised spindle shaped canoe. Targeted species include cichlids, C.nigrodigitatus and C. gariepinus. Fishermen reported reduction in sizes and quantity of fish caught. There is need for the development of appropriate management strategies for the fishery.