Innovation Diffusion in the Utilization of Fish Resources in Bangourain, West Region of Cameroon: Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Abstract

Fish is considered a crucial resource for the sustenance of livelihoods in water-dependent communities across the globe. However, geographical studies on innovations in the use of this resource are limited in the Cameroonian context. This study investigates the pattern of innovation diffusion in the utilization of fish resources, drawing from a random sample of 106 fishing households in Bangourain. The multiple linear regression analysis revealed that a single unit change in the natural drivers of innovation triggers a 0.164 change in the spatial diffusion of innovation in the utilization of fish resources (p-value > 0.05). With regards to the economic and cultural drivers of innovation, a unit change in their values lead respectively to a 0.538 and 0.424 shift in the diffusion of innovation. The results suggest that while the economic and cultural drivers of innovation are significant (P ˂ 0.05), those of natural drivers are insignificant (P ˃ 0.05). Policy interventions should leverage natural attributes to foster the effective diffusion of innovations – focusing on the tools and methods applied in fish harvesting.