The objective of this study was to determine the sustainable yield of the small - scale fisheries operations in Lagos State.
Between January and December 1991, 113 mechanized and 43 non-mechanized fishing units in 21 coastal villages were
purposively chosen and surveyed on a bi-monthly basis through questionnaire administration. Costs components of fishing
operations and landings of five highly targeted fish families namely: Sciaenidae, Ariidae, Polynemidae, Clupeidae and
Carangidae were collected. Multiple linear regression and Cobb-Douglas technique were employed to determine the
sustainable yield of the fisheries through the economies of scale in the wet and dry seasons. The multiple linear regression
output of the non-mechanized category in monetary terms showed a range of adjusted R
2
values of 0.91 and 0.98 in the two
seasons. The F-ratio values were significant at the 0.05 level and highly significant also at the 0.01 level in the two seasons.
The respondent categories were unable to combine their cost of operation efficiently from the result of the elasticity. The
economies of scale showed that the small-scale fisheries in Lagos State were largely undercapitalized. It was proposed that
the Lagos State Government should rejuvenate the defunct subsidy scheme, which on the long run will optimize the catches.
Measures recommended to achieve sustainability were those that could stimulate investments into the fisheries so that coastal
fishing operations will on the long run be optimal in Lagos State, Nigeria.
