GENDER ROLE IN THE CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATION OF TRADITIONAL FISHING GEARS IN FISHING COMMUNITIES OF ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA

The study focused on gender roles in the construction and operation of traditional fishing gears in three fishing communities (Otuocha, Ogbaru, and Ebenebe) of Anambra State, Nigeria. Sixty(60) structured descriptive questionnaires were used for data collection. Information from the various respondents in the study revealed that the mean age of the respondents was 37 years with the majority being literate and married with an average family size of 6. The data collected show that there are more males (58.3%) engaged in fish gear production and operation than females (41.7%).The result also showed that 82.9% of the respondents involved in active fishing were male while 17.1% of the respondent involved in active fishing were female. The study also revealed the challenges faced by fishing gear producers to include lack of access to credit, lack of access to materials, high cost of materials, and no formal training, while the major challenges faced by fishermen in the study areas includes insufficient gears, lack of canoes/boats, tedious nature, lack of cold room for storage, and no access to adequate market. Government involvement is hereby recommended to organize periodic training, distribution of loan facilities and inputs, to catalyze and co-ordinate activities in fish gear production and operation as well as other functions such processing and trading. More so, awareness should be created on gender equality and the need to involve more women in both professionalization of harvest and post-harvest activities to strengthen fishing activities in these communities.