Fisheries Development and Resource-usage Conflict: A Case-study of Deforestation Associated with the Lake Chad Fishery in Nigeria

Abstract

A predicted rejuvenation of the Lake Chad fisheries in central Africa, associated with the passing of severe drought conditions in its Sahel environs, is likely to increase significantly the pressure placed on other local resources. In the case of the tree resources, it can be demonstrated that the concentration of population and fish-processing activity along the western lakeshore, will further exacerbate the existing local deficit between demand and supply, leading to increased tree-loss with ultimately devastating results culminating in desertification.The problem is outlined and discussed in the context of both local and national economic considerations. Particular attention is given to the relationship between increasing demand for fish products in Nigeria as a whole, associated with expansion of population and rapid urbanization, and the commercialization of fisheries production in the Chad Basin leading to much-increased fuel-wood usage. It is clear that Government must play an active, much-expanded role in regulating this situation if severe resource depletion and environmental degradation is not to occur in the foreseeable future.

Application of GRACE to the estimation of groundwater storage change in a data‐poor region: A case study of Ngadda catchment in the Lake Chad Basin

“…Recent studies by Leblanc, Lemoalle, Bader, Tweed, and Mofor () and Policelli, Hubbard, Jung, Zaitchik, and Ichoku () though found that the measurement of lake water including open water and flooded vegetation would lead to significantly greater total water area of the lake in the late 1980s through 2016 than had been suggested before. Many studies explain human and natural impacts on the water resources of Lake Chad as well, such as two severe droughts that occurred in the periods 1972–1974 and 1983–1987 (Kimmage & Adams, ), desertification (IPCC, ), overgrazing (FAO, ), irrigation activities (Isiorho & Njock‐Libii, ), vegetation removal and modification (Keith & Plowers, ), and deforestation (Neiland & Verinumbe, ), along with population increase (UN Population Division, ). Whereas the lake shrinkage has been studied broadly using remote sensing data, understanding of groundwater variations remains poor in the region due to the lack of data and limited accessibility from insecurity by decades of violence, such as civil wars in Chad from 2005 to 2010 and insurgence of militants like Boko Haram from 2009 to present.…”

Fishing and farming at Lake Chad: Institutions for access to natural resources

“…Migration during the latter part of the millennium has brought Shuwa Arabs from the east and Fulani pastoralists from the west. Recent settlers on the lake shore include Hausa families from across northern Nigeria who were attracted by fishing opportunities at the lake during the 1970s (Meeren, 1980;Neiland and Verinumbe, 1990). Although certain ethnic groups have particular traditions, e.g.…”

Proposed Solutions to the Problems of the Lake Chad Fisheries: Resilience Lessons for Africa?

“…The African Knifefish (Gymnarchus niloticus), African Sharptooth (Clarias) and African bonytongue (Heterotis niloticus) were species commonly caught by fishers for transportation and sale at international markets [11,12]. With the development of this wealth-creation fishing system after the 1960s, Lake Chad experienced a rapid influx of migrant fishers from many different cultural and religious groups [13], and fishing became unregulated-over 95% of catches were juvenile fish "migrating between breeding grounds and the feeding areas" [9]. Neiland [9], cited Durand who noted that between 1963 and 1971, fish landings increased from about 20,000 tonnes to over 100,000 tonnes, and continued to increase reaching about 220,000 tonnes in 1974 [9].…”

“…Neiland [9], cited Durand who noted that between 1963 and 1971, fish landings increased from about 20,000 tonnes to over 100,000 tonnes, and continued to increase reaching about 220,000 tonnes in 1974 [9]. However, this figure fell to the present level of 20,000 tonnes after 1974 [13]. Climate change triggered drought, and poor government management of water allocation [14] contributed to the shrinking of the lake, cutting fisheries opportunities by reducing fish stocks.…”