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EFFECT OF OIL SPILLS ON FISH PRODUCTION IN BAYELSA


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Abstract

 The Niger Delta region is the oil producing area of Nigeria, which consists of highly diverse ecosystems that are supportive of numerous species of terrestrial and aquatic fauna and flora. Crude oil spills endanger fish hatcheries in coastal water and also contaminate valuable fish. This study examines the effects of oil spills on fish production in the Niger Delta of Nigeria. The findings suggest that oil production and spills negatively affect fish production, while farm labor has a positive effect on fish production. On the other hand, fishery loan exerts a negative effect on fish production and this could be ascribed to the bottlenecks in accessing these loans. This study corroborates the findings in literature on the negative concomitance of oil spills and fish production and suggests a cautious approach to oil exploration activities for a sustainable development in the region

 

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

  • Background of the study

In the Niger Delta, oil spill is perceived to be a major consequence of an inordinate exploitation of petroleum resources in the region. Some recent studies have examined spatial variations in the natural mortality of particular fish species in order to assess the impact of oil spills on marine ecosystems, specifically in the Arctic area (. Carroll J Et al 2018). But, varying results from these studies indicate the resistance of fish species to the toxicity of the environment. Bayelsa State which is one of the nine (9) States in the Niger Delta region of Nigeria is blessed with abundant natural water resources. According to Ita and Sado (1987), Nigeria has an estimated inland water mass of about 12.5 million hectares capable of producing about 512,000 metric tons of fish annually. Nigeria is blessed with a long coastline, extensive brackish and mangrove swamps supporting a wide range of fish species, such as tilapia, thread fins, moon fish, sea cat fish, snappers, cray fish, sea turtle, lobsters, sardines and razor fish West African Croakers, Bonga fish, shark, shrimps, bivalves, periwinkle and many others. Available statistics showed that Nigeria’s inland water bodies are producing less than 13% of their estimated fishery potential (Sule et al., 2002). The effect of oil resource extraction on the environment of the Niger Delta has been very glaring in terms of its negative effect on the region. Eteng (1997) stated that oil exploration and exploitation has over the last four decades impacted disastrously on the sociophysical environment of the Niger bearing communities, massively threatening the subsistent peasant economy and the environment and hence, the entire livelihood and basic survival of the people. Suffice it to say that, while oil exploitation has caused negative socio-economic and environmental problems in the Niger Delta, it has contributed enormously to the country’s economic growth since it was discovered in commercial quantities in 1956 at Oloibiri located in Bayelsa State. NEST (1991) reported that oil spillages in the country’s oil producing riverine areas were increasingly reducingsome of the Nigerian water bodies to veritable sewage depots for toxic chemicals which either kill or contaminate fish and other aquatic life. It was further reported that at 1981, about six million tones of petroleum was discharged into off-shore water annually. Out of this amount, about 600,000 tones resulted from sudden accidental spillages while the constant dripping of petroleum products from activities in all sphere of the oil industry accounted for the remainder. Following this development, fisheries occurrence in Nigeria’s wetlands could be limited by activities which pollute water and the greatest threat in this regard is oil pollution resulting from crude oil exploitation (NEST, 1991). The exploration and exploitation has impact on the environment through frequent spills, pipe explosions, pollution, sabotage, gas flaring and effluent emission. Other sources of oil include transportation and marketing, effluent water from oil refineries, lubrication oils and other wastes in the form of sludge, bitumen, slops and oil sand/sediment present in large amount within oil flow stations, storage terminals and tanks (Nwilo et al., 2000; Ogri, 2001). Nwilo and Badejo (2001) posited that where there is oil spill, it covers the surface of the water. This reduces oxygen exchange thereby, causing death of fishes because the oil coats the gills of the fishes preventing them from inhaling oxygen. In addition, oil spills endangers fish hatcheries in coastal waters, contaminates the flesh of commercially valuable fish and oil slicks prevent sunlight from reaching deeper levels of water where coral thrive, thus, limiting food production of plants (photosynthesis). Further reports on the effect of oil exploration and exploitation activities on aquatic lives showed that an oil spill can directly damage the boats and gear used for catching or cultivating marine species. Floating equipment and fixed traps extending above the sea surface are more likely to become contaminated by floating oil. In a study, on the effect of hydrocarbon pollution on water in the Niger Delta, Ukpong and Akpabio (2003) reported that hydrocarbon pollution causes great damage to spawning grounds; aquatic vegetation having economic values had degenerated in productivity while fish and crustaceans become carriers of toxic hydrocarbon substances along the food chain and fishing as an economic activity is lost or threatened, exacerbating hunger and poverty in fishing communities. Anderson et al. (1974) reported cases of oil spillage in Sangana, Koluama, Akassa and Brass communities in Bayelsa State, in which tremendous damage was done to fisheries in the wild. Oil spillage has a list of deleterious effect on the biota particularly, the fish which includes fin erosion, respiratory difficulties and mortality (Ziskowki and Murchelano, 1995). Keke (1989) observed massive fish deaths at Bayelsa State because of the incessant oil pollution in the coastal waters. In the Gulf region, TED case studies (1996) asserted that the fishing industry was deleteriously affected by the oil spillage into the Gulf, which was important due to the fact that it is one of the most vibrant productive activities in the region after the production of oil. As an example of the vibrancy of this industry, prior to the Iraqi Invasion of Kuwait the Gulf yielded harvests of marine life up to 120,000 tons of fish a year; after the oil spillage, these numbers significantly dropped. As a matter of fact, the incidence of oil spillage often results in total extermination of fish, leading to reduced fish output. Such losses adversely affected fishermen active economic livelihood. This has a backward integration in the national economic development. Although, the impacts of oil pollution in the Niger Delta are enormous, the objective of this study is to examine fishing in oil spillage zone and its effects on total fish catch and profitability in the study area.

  • STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

Nigeria has lost more than 30% of its habitable environment due to oil spills, which destroy crops and aquaculture through the contamination of waterways and groundwater, oil flaring of associated gas, and mismanagement of the land resources (Otunkor and Ohwovorione, 2015). Oil spills have been proven to have significant negative impacts on fish production and land productivity, which further impoverish the already poor farmers and fishermen in the study area with the increasing soil infertility as a result of the destruction of soil micro-organisms and dwindling agricultural productivity. Fish farmers have been forced to abandon their trade to seek non-existent alternative means of livelihood. This problem of water and environmental pollution has become a global issue due to its adverse effects on both human health and fish productivity. Nigeria is one of the world’s third largest wetlands after Holland and Mississippi (Omene, 2003). The area remains increasingly under threat due to rapidly deteriorating environmental conditions, especially the menace posed by oil companies. Since the discovery and subsequent exploration of crude oil in Oloibiri in 1956, the environmental pollution emanating from such exploration has led to unprecedented economic deprivation and underdevelopment of the area.

  • OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

The study has one objective which is divided into two which is the general objective and the specific objective, the general objective is to examine the effect of oil spillage on fish production. The specific objectives are;

  1. To examine the effect of oil spills on fish production
  2. To ascertain if there is any relationship between oil spills and fish production in Bayelsa state
  • To examine the impact of oil spills on fish production among fish farmers in Bayelsa state
  1. To proffer suggested solution to the identified problem
    • RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The following research questions were formulated by the researcher to aid the completion of the study;

  1. Is there any effect of oil spills on fish production in Bayelsa state?
  2. Is there any significant relationship between oil spills and fish production in Bayelsa state?
  • Does oil spills have any impact on fish production among fish farmers in Bayelsa state?

 

  • RESEARCH HYPOTHESES

The following research hypotheses were formulated by the researcher in null and alternate form

H0: There is no significant relationship between oil spills and fish production in Bayelsa state

H1: There is a significant relationship between oil spills and fish production in Bayelsa state

  • SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY

It is believed that at the completion of the study, the findings will be of great importance to the Bayelsa state ministry of environment and ministry of agriculture as the study seek to examine the dangers and economic effect of oil spills to fish farmers and fishermen within the study area. The study will also be of great importance to the management of oil companies as the study, as the study seek to reveal the effect of their economic activities on the aquatic life and economic wellbeing of their host community. The study will also be of importance to researchers who intend to embark on a study in a similar topic as the study will serve as a reference point to further research. Finally the study will be of importance to students, teachers, lecturer’s academia’s and the general public as the study will contribute to the pool of existing literature on the subject matter and also contribute to knowledge.

 

  • SCOPE AND LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The scope of the study covers the effect of oil spills on fish production in Bayelsa state but in the course of the study, there are some factors that limit the scope of the study ;

  1. a) AVAILABILITY OF RESEARCH MATERIAL: The research material available to the researcher is insufficient, thereby limiting the study
  2. b) TIME: The time frame allocated to the study does not enhance wider coverage as the researcher has to combine other academic activities and examinations with the study.
  3. c) FINANCE: The finance available for the research work does not allow for wider coverage as resources are very limited as the researcher has other academic bills to cover.

1.8 OPERATIONAL DEFINITION OF TERMS

Crude oil

Crude oil is a mixture of comparatively volatile liquid hydrocarbons (compounds composed mainly of hydrogen and carbon), though it also contains some nitrogen, sulfur, and oxygen.

Oil spill

An oil spill is the release of a liquid petroleum hydrocarbon into the environment, especially the marine ecosystem, due to human activity, and is a form of pollution.

Fish

Fish are gill-bearing aquatic craniate animals that lack limbs with digits. They form a sister group to the tunicates, together forming the olfactores

Fish production

The global commercial production for human use of fish and other aquatic organisms occurs in two ways: they are either captured wild by commercial fishing or they are cultivated and harvested using aquaculture and farming techniques

1.9 ORGANIZATION OF THE STUDY

This research work is organized in five chapters, for easy understanding, as follows

Chapter one is concern with the introduction, which consist of the (overview, of the study), statement of problem, objectives of the study, research question, significance or the study, research methodology, definition of terms and historical background of the study. Chapter two highlight the theoretical framework on which the study its based, thus the review of related literature. Chapter three deals on the research design and methodology adopted in the study. Chapter four concentrate on the data collection and analysis and presentation of finding.  Chapter five gives summary, conclusion, and recommendations made of the study.

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Author: SPROJECT NG