Women's participation in lower Ikpa River fisheries of Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria: a case study of Ifiayong

Ifiayong is a small local village market where economically and commercially important fin and shellfishes are landed. It is located very close to the Five Star and Ibom Le Meridian Hotels at Nwaniba beach. Women functioned as transporters, sorters, processors, financiers, distributors and marketers of the thirty-two finfish families, seven shellfish species together with three turtles (reptiles) encountered at the study site. Socio-economic survey revealed that ninety-four women modally aged 46-55years (34; 36.17%) participated in the fisheries and frequently communicated in Efik (40; 42.55%), and were mostly drop-outs (40; 40.56%) in educational level and polygamous (35; 38.30%). The modal family size was 11-15 persons (45; 47.87%) who invested N 41,000 - N 50,000 (28; 29.79%). Problems encountered by these women together with the corresponding solutions and appropriate recommendations proffered were highlighted with the aim of making Ifiayong a revenue generating and tourism centre for Uruan Local Council and Akwa Ibom State Government