Development of marine small-scale fisheries in Togo: An examination of the efficiency of fishermen at the new fishing port of Lomé and the necessity of fisheries co-management

Abstract

Small-scale fisheries play a crucial role in providing fish protein for both consumers and coastal communities in Togo. However, the fishermen's revenue is relatively low compared to their expectations. Assessing changes in the technical efficiency is crucial for decision-making, particularly in light of the depletion of natural resources and the need for structural improvements. This study examines the technical efficiency of small-scale fishermen at the new fishing port in Lomé. The primary data were collected through a cross-sectional survey of 82 randomly selected fishermen. The data were analyzed using descriptive method. Subsequently, a Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA) was employed to identify the factors contributing to the inefficiency of these small-scale fishermen. The results indicate that only two variables, namely the fishing hours per month and boat ownership (being a skipper), have a statistically significant positive impact on the fishermen's monthly income. The inefficiency model derived from the SFA regression showed that fishery subsidies and cooperative membership positively influence technical efficiency, whereas the duration of fishing trip (number of days at sea and number of trips per month) and boat length negatively influence efficiency. Overall, the results suggest that the government should review fishery subsidy policies to enhance fishermen's technical efficiency while ensuring the sustainability of fisheries. Additionally, we identify another key area for potential policy interventions, which includes promoting and supporting cooperative membership among the fishermen. This could provide social support, an organizational structure for communication, co-management, and collective decision-making.