CHAPTER 3
FRESHWATER FISH SEED RESOURCES AND CATFISH BUSINESS IN NIGERIA
3.1 AQUACULTURE AND
FINGERLING PRODUCTION IN NIGERIA
Fish
is the cheapest source of animal protein consumed by the average Nigerian,
accounting for about 40 percent of the total protein intake. Fish production in
Nigeria is mainly from the capture sector especially artisanal coastal and
artisanal inland fisheries. This sector contributes over eighty percent of
total domestic production of some 510 000 tonnes per annum (FDF, 2 004).
Nigeria imports 700 000 tonnes of fish per annum and an annual deficit of
almost half a millon tones still exists if the demand supply gap were to be
bridged (as of 2007 according to Atanda, A.N. of Freshwater fish seed resources
of Nigeria). Thus, consequent upon over-exploitation of the marine fisheries
resource which has resulted in gradual depletion of the stock, there is now concerted
effort to harness the nation’s enormous freshwater resources through
aquaculture to boost fish production. Aquaculture has been recognized as a
viable means of increasing domestic fish production. The sector is estimated to
have a potential of freshwater alone. Unfortunately, for now, even with the
recent boost in production by private fish farmers, aquaculture is contributing
only about 80 000 tones. One of the major problems indentified as
hindering the promotion and development of aquaculture in the country, at least
until recently, is the scarcity of fish fingerlings of the desired culture
species. The desired quantity and quantity have never always been available. if
the above potential were to be realized at a semi-intensive management level of
fingerlings to adult to ensure survival of 50 percent, then at least two
billion fingerlings would be required from annually from all sources. An
additional 500 million would be needed to stock inland water bodies such as
dams and reservoirs. The present total production and supply from all sources
is just about 55 million fingerlings (2007 report by Atanda, A.N. for
freshwater fish seed resources of Nigeria). The modern aquaculture practices
were initial in Nigeria in the early 1950s, when exotic spices of carp
(Cyprinus carpio) were introduced from Austria into the Panyam fish farm in
north central the southwest of the country. Before then the act of maintaining
fish in ponds and reservoirs were relatively recreational.
The
first national effort by the federal Government at promoting fish seed
promotion was in 1987 through the Directorate of food, Roads and Rural
Infrastructure (DFRRI). Under this progamme, nationwide fish farming
commissioned to produce fingerlings in anticipation of increase demand from the
public.since this period, there has been steady increase in fish fingerling
activities, especially by the private sector. Unfortunately though, the
government fish farms which had served as models between the 1970s and 1980s
went out of production as a result of poor management due to lack of funding and cumbersome policy and bureaucracy.
During the ten years, the private
sector has virtually taken over the industry and invested massively in
aquaculture especially freshwater
catfish farming including seed production. In order of importance and
acceptability, the important cultured species are as follows;
1.
Catfishes and their hybrids (Clarias, Heterobranchus) -80 percent;
2.
Tilapias – 14 percent;
3.
Heterotis
niloticus – 2 percent;
4.
Cyprinus
carpio – 2 percent;
5.
Chrysichthys
nigrodititatus – 1 percent;
6.
Others (Lates niloticus, Mugil sp. Etc.) – percent.
Until
recently, apart from a few large fish farmers who produce their own
fingerlings, limited fingerlings are available for sale in Nigeria. There
remains a large unmet (undermined) demand for fish seed across the country and
this has been a major constraint to the aquaculture industry next only to
quality feed supply. Many private fish farms are abandoned across the country
due to the lack of fish seed. Visits to several small fish hatcheries in the
southern part of the country revealed severe under- production, which could be
increase with improved management techniques.
Many
technical problems often exist which include poor management of broodstocks
especially with regards to feeding and handling. Poor records are kept of all
activities (e.g induced spawning, care of eggs, fry, feeding, etc). High loss
of eggs and fry are common due to lack of water exchange or aeration. Use of square tanks which lead to crowding
of fry in corners caused high mortalities. Some hatcheries use unaerated
well-water. No grader are used in most farms, no precautions taken for
controlling water entries in rearing ponds, allowing wild fish to enter to
feast on young fingerlings. Most farms and hatcheries represented sizeable
investments (in the range of US$10 000 to US$40 000) and yet inexperienced
managers were sometimes hired off the street and paid low salaries. Few efforts
were made to obtain training for such managers even though courses are
frequently available in the country at universities and institutes such as the
National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR). In contrast, the
larger producers have sent managers to workshops in Nigeria as well as to
Europe, the USA or Israel for intensive courses in aquaculture.
Another
interesting feature of the fingerling supply industry is marketing and
distribution, as a result of the seasonality of natural production. While there
is always a surplus of fingerlings in many farms in the same zone at the same
time only the experienced and well-trained producers who could produce
year-round enjoy monopoly of supply at dry periods. Unfortunately too, fish
farmers in most part of the country especially the north, are perpetually
searching for hatchery-produced fish seed for their farms.
3.2 SOURCES OF FISH SEED
The supply of fish seed in Nigeria
(a) Collection from natural waters (wild
sources),
(b) From hatchery production based on
controlled spawning and to a lesser extent
(c) Importation
Fingerling collection from the wild
is found to be unreliable, because it is seasonal and usually contains mixed
species, some of which do not meet the criteria of good aquaculture candidates.
The correct age of fish and fingerlings are difficult to determine. This has
led to the dependence on hatchery-bred fish with known history. Several fish
hatcheries have been established in the country, many of them in the south.
The tilapias are usually allowed to
spawn naturally in ponds and tanks, while the mud catfishes and carps are
subjected to hormone-induced spawning. These practices require a lot of skill
and the technology had been transferred to various interested practitioners
around the country through short courses on fish seed multiplication. The
earliest of such training programmes by the Federal Department of Fisheries was
assisted by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)
between 1978 and 1981, when two Fish Seed Multiplication and Fish FARMING
demonstration Centres were established at Panyam Fish Farm in Plateau State
(north central Nigeria) and Oyo Fish Farm (southwest Nigeria). Regular on-farm,
hands-on training were organized for centres were later established at
Umina-Okigwe (southeastern Nigeria )
and Mando Road , Kaduna Nigeria
