Livelihood studies have demonstrated the reliance of communities on available capital bases for their survival. The concept of livelihood extends beyond mere economic transactions to include other equally important dimensions that impact people’s ability to sustain themselves and thrive. For fishing communities, their livelihoods are deeply connected to their natural resource endowments. With a focus on rural Nigeria as a case study, an assessment of livelihood status of fishing households is presented. The study collected cross-sectional data from 134 households using questionnaire for the 2023 fishing season.