Public relations and extension services in Nigerian fisheries industry

The paper discussed the importance of fish as a food commodity and the rich icthyofauna resources of Nigerian territorial which has not been optimally utilized to be sustainable. Among the challenges facing the fisheries subsector of Nigerian economomy apart from overfishing, poor post-harvest technology and high incidence of sea piracy is poor level of communications, public relations, restricted access to extension services especially to the rural artisanal fisherfolks/fish farmers in Nigeria . This has been identified as contributory to the increasing shortfall between demand and supply of fish in Nigeria. There is a need/or a good public image fisheries concerns. Production and marketing personnel need to respect the wishes of the consumers and have good interpersonal relationships. Communication should be a 2-way affair between the extension officers and the fisherfolks in the rural communities to be achieved. The various media that could aid better dissemination in the Fisheries subsector were highlighted. The author recommended better funding, training of extensionists and target audience, improved public sensitization of rural practitioners to fish output. There is a need for a more productive and result-oriented reform in Nigerian extension system. A unified extension is also recommended for effective extension education from the stage of production, handling, processing, transport and retailing. More conducive enabling environment should be created by the government