Management of Shared Fisheries Resources in Cross-Border Communities Along the Benue River

This study examined the management of shared fisheries resources in cross-border fishing communities along the Benue River between Benue and Taraba states in Nigeria's North Central and North East zones. Shared waterbodies present complex governance challenges, as fishing communities from multiple jurisdictions compete for the same stocks without a coordinated management framework. The study adopted a qualitative approach combining focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and community observation in six border fishing communities. Topics explored included historical patterns of resource access and sharing, existing informal governance arrangements, inter-community conflicts over fishing grounds, and perceptions of stock decline. Results revealed that informal reciprocal use arrangements, governed by traditional fisheries institutions, historically regulated access to shared fishing grounds but have progressively weakened due to population growth, increased fishing effort, and declining stock yields. Inter-community conflicts over prime fishing locations had escalated over the preceding five years, with three incidents of physical confrontation reported. No formal inter-state fisheries management agreement existed between Benue and Taraba state fisheries agencies. Traditional community leadership, including clan heads and fisheries committee elders, retained legitimacy as mediators but lacked legal authority to enforce agreements. The study recommends the formalisation of community-based co-management agreements between Benue and Taraba fisheries authorities, empowerment of traditional fisheries institutions, and the establishment of a joint monitoring committee for the shared Benue River fishery. Keywords: shared fisheries resources, co-management, cross-border fisheries, Benue River, community governance