Survey of Fish Landing Sites and Infrastructure in Akwa Ibom State

This study surveyed fish landing sites and assessed the state of supporting infrastructure in Akwa Ibom State, South South Nigeria, a state with one of the longest coastlines in the country and significant marine and estuarine fisheries. Adequate landing infrastructure is fundamental to minimising post-harvest losses, ensuring fish quality, and supporting the livelihoods of fishing communities. A total of 18 landing sites were visited across the Eket, Ibeno, and Oron local government areas. Data were collected on site characteristics, vessel docking capacity, fish handling and sorting facilities, ice and cold storage availability, road access, potable water supply, and waste management practices. Results revealed that 72 percent of landing sites lacked any form of sheltered landing or fish handling space, exposing catches to direct sunlight and increasing spoilage rates. Ice availability was limited to three sites with direct market proximity. None of the surveyed sites had functional cold storage facilities, and only one had a piped potable water supply. Waste management was informal at all sites, with fish offal disposed of directly into the water at 14 sites. Road access was poor or seasonal at 61 percent of sites, hindering market linkage and adding to transport-related losses. The study recommends a coordinated investment programme by state and federal fisheries agencies to upgrade landing infrastructure, introduce centralised icing services, and improve road connectivity to priority fish landing centres in Akwa Ibom State. Keywords: fish landing sites, post-harvest infrastructure, artisanal fisheries, Akwa Ibom State, coastal fisheries