Factors Influencing Market Price of Fish in Obio-Akpor Local Government of Rivers State, Nigeria

Abstract

Fish and its products are essential constituents in the feeding regime of most Nigerians, to some extent, because it is comparatively a cheaper protein source when compare to other sources of animal protein [1]. Additionally, fish constitutes about 40-50% of the animal protein intake of the average Nigerian [2, 3]. It plays an important role in improving the food security and nutritional status of many families in the country. Many families depend largely on fish, on a daily basis. The fish is consumed indifferent forms as smoked, dried, fried or steamed [4.5]. Also fish have been described as the sole accessible and affordable source of animal protein for poor household in urban and rural areas [6]. The importance of fish as crucial-elements in the diets of family member such as infants, young children and pregnant women, is now widely recognized [7]. Most of the fishes consumed by the families in different parts of the country come mostly from three main sources, capture fisheries, aquaculture and imported fish (Frozen and Stock fish). Their prices vary from one locality to another, which largely depends on demand and level of urbanization [8, 9].