Global Journal of Fisheries Science Volume 6(2), pages 33-41, June 2024 Article Number: F4A1C7D83 ISSN: 2782-750X https://doi.org/10.31248/GJFS2024.050 https://integrityresjournals.org/journal/GJFS Full Length Research Current assessment and classification of fishing gears and crafts deployed by fisherfolks in Oguta Lake, Imo State Nigeria Ukagwu, J. I. 1 *, Ohaturonye, S. O. 2 , Okeke P.A. 2 and Aguh, G. C. 2 1 Department of Agricultural Science, Alvan Ikoku Federal University of Education, Owerri, Nigeria. 2 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture Management, Nnamdi Azikiwe University Awka, Nigeria. *Corresponding author. Email: ukagwujohn@yahoo.com Copyright © 2024 Ukagwu et al. This article remains permanently open access under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License 4.0, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Received 2nd April 2024; Accepted 25th April 2024 ABSTRACT: The study was carried out to examine the fishing gears and crafts used in Oguta Lake, Imo state, Nigeria. The study was conducted within the period of three (3) months (Oct 2023 – Dec 2023) to identify the major fishing gear and crafts used in Oguta Lake, to determine the socio-economic characteristics of the fisher folks, and to identify problems associated with the gear and crafts used. One of the significant problems in Oguta Lake is the widespread use of inappropriate fishing gear by local fishermen. Many fishermen continue to employ non-selective and destructive gears, such as fine mesh nets and poison substances due to the cost and expensiveness of appropriate fishing gears and crafts. The frame and catch assessment survey method was used for the study. Analytical tools used include descriptive statistics and the Likert scale. Results obtained from the study showed that gillnet was the major fishing gear used in Oguta Lake while one-man dugout canoe was the major fishing craft used. The study also showed that the majority of the fisherfolks are male (99.9%). The mean age of the fisher folks was 35 with a mean family size of 7. The majority of the fishers are not full-time fishers. The estimated income generated by the majority of the fisherfolks is N30,000 -N40,000 per month. However, overfishing, habitat destruction, regulatory challenges, pollution, unsustainable practices, socio-economic impact and bycatch were major challenges associated with the gears, while lack of suitability and stability, limited space and weight capacity are problems present with the gear. Therefore, it is recommended that the provision of loans and fishing gear to the fishers will increase productivity which will in turn increase catch. Also, the construction of a robust and stabilised planked canoe to compensate for the shortage of large dugout canoes and the unavailability of timbers is recommended. Keywords: Crafts, fisherfolks, fishing gear, inland water, Oguta Lake. INTRODUCTION Oguta Lake can be categorized as a freshwater lake. It is characterized by the act of receiving perennial drainage from the Utu, Njaba and Awbuna rivers, which have their root in the Awka-Orlu in North central axis of Imo State, Nigeria. It also collects overflow from the Niger. Lake empties into the Orashi River, which is the major river positioned on the east bank floodplain of the Niger and which transports River Niger’s floodwaters straight into the Niger Delta. The lake collects a huge quantity of sediment from its tributaries, especially, the Njaba, a river that is practically active and deeply incising into the badly structured soils and unconsolidated sedimentary rock (Ogwashi-Asaba Formation, Ameki Formation, and the Benin Formation) underlying the northern axis of Imo State (Ahiarakwem and Onyekuru, 2011). There are four rivers (Awbana, Utu, Njaba and Orashi) that have links with Oguta Lake (Ahiarakwem and Onyekuru, 2011). Fishing gear can be defined as the kind of tools or equipment that is used in, cropping/harvesting, test cropping or capturing fish from any water body (Nuhu and