Assessment of Waste Management Practices in Fish Processing Facilities in Akwa Ibom State

This study assessed waste management practices in fish processing facilities operating along the coastline and riverine areas of Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria, a major hub of marine and estuarine fish processing in the Niger Delta region. Inadequate management of fish processing waste, including blood water, fish offal, scales, and wastewater, poses serious environmental and public health risks in coastal communities. Thirty-two processing facilities were surveyed using a standardised environmental assessment checklist and structured interviews with facility managers. Variables assessed included waste types generated, disposal methods, effluent treatment, odour and sanitation management, and awareness of environmental regulations. Results indicated that 94 percent of facilities disposed of solid fish waste directly into adjacent water bodies or shoreline areas, contributing to localised eutrophication, anoxic conditions, and odour nuisance. Liquid effluent was entirely untreated at all surveyed facilities before discharge. None of the facilities had installed any form of waste treatment or containment system. Regulatory compliance audits had been conducted at only four facilities in the preceding two years. Despite awareness of environmental regulations being moderate at 52 percent, perceived enforcement risk was extremely low, with only 7 percent of operators reporting any regulatory consequence for improper waste disposal. The study recommends the development of a practical waste management framework specific to coastal fish processing operations in Akwa Ibom State, including affordable effluent treatment technologies, government-supported waste collection systems, and strengthened environmental inspection programmes. Keywords: waste management, fish processing, environmental pollution, coastal fisheries, Akwa Ibom State