Ojo O.B.¹ , Olawusi-Peters O.O.² , Ajibare A.O.³

1 Department of Agricultural Science and Technology, Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology, PMB 250 Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
2 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
3 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Technology, Olusegun Agagu University of Science and Technology, Okitipupa, Ondo State, Nigeria
Author    Correspondence author
International Journal of Aquaculture, 2026, Vol. 16, No. 2   
Received: 08 Mar., 2026    Accepted: 25 Mar., 2026    Published: 18 Apr., 2026

This is an open access article published under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

The coast of Nigeria is increasingly experiencing pressure due to climate change and its impact on small-scale and artisanal fisheries. This study analyzed the effects of changing rainfall patterns, rising temperatures, and hydrological variability on small-scale fisheries in Ilaje Local Government Area (LGA), Ondo State, Nigeria. Four fishing villages: Ayetoro, Bijimi, Idiogba, and Asumogha were randomly selected to represent the fishing population. Data collection combined 285 questionnaire responses with 30 years of rainfall and temperature records from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NiMet), complemented by government and fisheries data. Quantitative data were analyzed using SPSS (version 25) with descriptive statistics, Chi-square, ANOVA, and regression, while qualitative data captured adaptation strategies. Results revealed a measurable decrease in rainfall days (218 in 1996 to 182 in 2025), rainfall ranging between 1,700-2,200 mm, and a steady increase in mean annual temperature from 27.4°C to 28.5°C. Maximum temperatures rose from 32.6°C to 33.3°C, while minimum temperatures increased from 19.6°C to 21.3°C. Nearly all participants (98.6%) agreed that increased water levels result in greater fish catches, while 97.5% believed decreased water levels reduce catches. Climate variability in Ilaje has disrupted fisheries and livelihoods. Recommendations include improved water management, shoreline protection, livelihood diversification, stronger cooperatives, and resilience-building to sustain Nigeria’s coastal blue economy.

Rainfall variability; Temperature trends; Hydrological changes; Ilaje fishing communities; Adaptation strategies