Hundreds of fishermen in Taraba’s riverine communities, who rely on fishing for their livelihood, are experiencing a significant decline in their income due to poor harvest.

Findings by Weekend Trust reveal that in previous years, many fishermen earned between N10,000 and N20,000 daily from their catch. However, they now struggle to make N10,000 daily.

Reports indicate that fish harvests have been steadily declining over the years, forcing many fishermen to turn to farming and other occupations to sustain themselves.

Fishermen across 12 local government areas of the state, who have depended on fishing for decades, are seeing their earnings drop drastically.

Findings showed that the decline was due to factors such as the use of chemicals, explosives, and undersized nets, which have significantly depleted fish populations in the state’s rivers and ponds.

Similarly, harmful fishing practices, environmental changes, and the use of chemicals by farmers have led to the extinction of several fish species.

Mallam Dauda Adamu, a fisherman in Yashin Tuwo, Karim-Lamido Local Government Area, confirmed the challenges they are facing. He noted that the dwindling fish population has forced many fishermen to take up farming and other activities to make ends meet.

“In the past, fishermen made good daily income from fishing. However, due to the decreasing fish population, our earnings have drastically reduced,” he said.

An official from the Taraba State Ministry of Agriculture, who preferred to remain anonymous, confirmed the drastic decline in fish populations across the state’s rivers.

He cited harmful fishing methods, environmental factors, and the use of chemicals as key contributors to the problem.

To address the issue, the ministry recently launched an awareness campaign to educate fishermen on sustainable fishing practices. Additionally, it has distributed appropriate fishing nets and other equipment to help reverse the negative trend.