Assessment of Fish Trader Networks and Price Transmission in Cross River State Fish Markets

Understanding the structure of fish marketing chains and price transmission mechanisms is essential for designing interventions that improve farmer income and consumer access to affordable fish protein. This study assesses the organisation of fish trader networks, market structure, and price transmission between farm-gate, wholesale, and retail levels in the fish marketing system of Cross River State, South South Nigeria. Data were collected through structured surveys of 90 fish traders at Obudu, Ogoja, and Calabar markets, complemented by price series data from monthly market price monitoring over 18 months. Social network analysis was applied to map trading relationships, and the price transmission elasticity between market levels was estimated using vector error correction models. Results showed that the Calabar wholesale market acts as the price-setting hub for the state, with farm-gate to wholesale price transmission elasticity of 0.74, indicating imperfect but significant price transmission. Retailer margins were high and relatively stable, averaging 28% above wholesale price, compared to farmer margins of only 11% above production cost. Market power was concentrated among a small group of wholesale traders (11 individuals controlling 43% of fish volumes), indicative of oligopolistic market conditions. Female retailers were the most numerous trading tier but exercised the least price-setting power. The study recommends the establishment of a state-supported fish price information service and farmer collective marketing groups to improve smallholder bargaining power in Cross River State fish markets.

Keywords: fish marketing, price transmission, market structure, Cross River State, value chain