Climate Change Implications for the Aquaculture Industry in the Rivers State, Niger Delta Area of Nigeria

Abstract

Rivers State is a coastal community in the Niger Delta Area of Nigeria encompassed by a network of tributaries, inland and the Atlantic Ocean at its Southern tip.  The communities of the Rivers State are largely dependent on the coastal wetlands for aquaculture and fisheries activities, which are their main economic activity.  Several other economic activities especially oil prospecting and exploration activities by numerous companies, land fills, and reclamation, and human activities such as deforestation of the mangroves of the wetlands among others responsible for global climate change are high in the Rivers State.

Also, certain climate change activities have been observed recently. Thus a review was carried out to determine the likely implications of climate change on the aquaculture industry, and subsequently the livelihood of the  fish farmers, and recommendation/suggestion have been made to this effect.

This review is aimed at understanding and creating an awareness as regards the climate change implications for the aquaculture industry for all stakeholders in the Rivers State and proffering a solution to this anomaly.

Keywords: Aquaculture, Economic Activity, Climate Change, .