Professional Development Needs of Fisheries Officers in Federal Ministry of Agriculture Field Offices

This study assessed the professional development needs of fisheries officers serving in Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development field offices across five geopolitical zones of Nigeria. Effective fisheries management depends significantly on the technical competence and professional currency of field-level officers who interface directly with fishing communities and aquaculture operators. A needs assessment survey was administered to 110 fisheries officers, supplemented by interviews with 15 senior officers and review of existing training records. Competency gaps were assessed across eight domains: fisheries stock assessment, aquaculture technology, water quality monitoring, fish health management, fisheries law enforcement, post-harvest technology, fisheries economics, and digital data collection. Results revealed the widest competency gaps in fisheries stock assessment, digital data collection, and fish disease identification, with less than 30 percent of officers rating themselves as competent in these areas. Formal training opportunities had been accessed by only 38 percent of officers in the preceding three years, and training was often limited to workshops of fewer than five days in duration. A significant proportion of officers had academic backgrounds in general agriculture rather than fisheries science, creating discipline-specific knowledge gaps. Officers in the North West and North East zones reported the least access to training facilities. The study recommends the development of a structured continuing professional development framework for fisheries officers, creation of regional fisheries training centres, and the integration of e-learning modules to improve access for officers in underserved zones. Keywords: professional development, fisheries officers, capacity building, training needs, federal fisheries