Using data obtained from 198 small-scale fishers, the paper examined the effects of socio-economic factors on
artisanal fish output in the South Agro-ecological zone of Delta State, Nigeria. The results showed that average
fixed costs and average variable costs were N 116,005.14/fisher/year and N 181,877.56/fisher/year respectively.
Fishing crafts and gears accounted for 76.54%of total fixed costs of production; while labour, fuel, and repair and
maintenance made up 76.85% of total variable costs. While net margin/fisher/year was N 111,677.62 for the study
area, it was N 140,492.74 among motorised units and N 84,012.15 for fishers in the non-motorised segment. Net
margin-to-cost ratio was 34% in the motorised sector, 45% in the non-motorised segment, and 37% for the entire
area studied. Regression results indicated that household size, gender of fisher, fishing experience, season, fishing
craft, labour, capital depreciation, and non-fishing income had statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) on fish
catch. Output elasticity estimates showed that a percentage increase in labour utilisation caused a 0.82% rise in fish
catch, while a proportionate increase in non-fishing income depressed fish catch by 0.1%.