Influence of Use of Fish Processing Practices on the Economic Wellbeing of Riverine Dwellers of Rivers State, Nigeria

The study investigated the influence of the use of fish processing practices on the economic well-being of riverine dwellers of Rivers State, Nigeria. The specific objectives were to identify the processing practices used by the fish processors and, ascertain the extent of use of different processing practices in the study area. A multi-stage method, purposive and simple sampling techniques were used in selecting 120 respondents for the study. The primary data were sourced through the use of a structured questionnaire, analyzed using both descriptive (frequency, percentages, and mean) and inferential statistics (multiple and bivariate regression models). The result showed a grand mean of 2.95, which indicates that the respondents sourced their fish products from different sources. The result revealed that the fish processing practices utilized by fish processors in the study area were washing (90.0%), salting and smoking (85.8%), sun/air-drying (75.0%), cold-smoking (72.5%), use of preservative herbs (71.6%) and sorting/cutting (58.3%). The result revealed a grand mean of 3.34, affirming that the fish processors highly used the traditional fish processing methods in processing their fish products in the study area. The result revealed a grand mean of 3.12, confirming the positive economic well-being status of the fish processors in the study area. Again, the coefficient of use of fish processing practices was statistically significant at a 5% probability level and positively related to the economic well-being status of fish processors in the study area. The study concluded that the use of fish processing practices positively influenced the economic well-being of fish processors. It was therefore recommended that the fisheries unit of the agricultural extension agency and research institutes should devise appropriate or improved methods of processing fish locally that will be less hazardous to health and environmentally suitable.