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— Earner ” FAO ” TOP FAN Badge.

THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT of Nigeria’s imputs in Agriculture and Aquaculture in particular is one of the most critical of the multiple engines engaged in diversifying the economy and create jobs and prosperity for the youths

In December 2017, Nigeria through the Vice President hosted the 10th conference of Ministers and the tenth anniversary of the “Fisheries Committee For the West Central Gulf of Guinea” ( FCWC ). at Transcorp Hilton Hotel Abuja – annual conference. The theme of the conference was INVESTING FOR GROWTH AND SUSTAINABILITY FOR FISHERIES IN WEST AFRICA. the conference was important for sharing experiences and laying out aspirations for the wellbeing of the people.

The aim and the Objective of the regional body included the strengthening of subregional cooperation in fisheries management , monitoring, Surveillance, enforcement operation and development of capacity of Small scale fishing operation in member countries to create sustainable likelihood. All the six member countries also need to deepen strategic cooperation to harness the enormous fishing potential in the Gulf of Guinea for the benefit of the people . It was stressed that the Secretariat of the FCWC should priorities the speedy sharing of informations between member states in order to more effectively checkmate the activities of the foreign vessels fishing illegally within our territorial waters.

ECONOMIC GROWTH

The National economic growth is dependent on the small scale fishing operators and very germane to be over looked. Most of the National economy thrives largely on combined energy of multitude of individual entrepreneurs and small businesses eg farmers, fishermen, artisans, traders etc .hence, the polices and programmes of government must therefore be directed towards supporting the aspirations and ambitions of these small scale but big energy entrepreneurs.

LAKE CHAD FISHING

In the North East, the desertification has caused a lot of shrinkage to the volume of waters while the activities of the Boko Haram terrorists have devastated a fishing industry that has historically supplied much of West Africa . To further salvage the fishing activities , Lake Chad Naval base was established to boost security and fast track the restoration of the deprived livelihoods in the zone.

FUNDING — The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) said it is prepared and willing to assist the growth of fishery sector in Nigeria if there are willing Anchors ” Off takers ” that will takeup the farmed fish from farmers. Fish farming in Nigeria is yet another huge commercial potential avenue awaiting exploitation.

Efforts made at reducing fish importation and increase Local fish production by encouraging aquaculture is on from 450,000mt to 1.1mmt in 2020.
There are about 264 dams in Nigeria, also blessed with extensive costal and brackish ( salty ) water while Inland rivers and lakes are enormous but all these are grossly under utilised, many dams were built for multipurpose usages such as for Water supply, Fishing , Hydro electricity and Ecosystem.

There are quite a large number of fish farmers in Nigeria, Lagos and it’s environment in particular but no undertakers a situation limiting CBN participation in the industry.
Predominantly the aquaculture in Nigeria is for Cat fish and Tilapia. Currently , the EUROPEAN Union had placed a ban on Nigeria fish. To export fish it has to conform to Standard and quality in terms of Chemical used during the breeding process and packaging. However Norwegian do patronise Nigeria fish but not in a way Nigeria do import from Norwegian.

Annually, Nigeria import about 900,000 Mt of Fish while annual consumption is about 1.5MMT . (Dir. Water Supply and Public Partnership FMin.of Water resources ).

● NIMASA – ( Nig. Maritime Administration and Safety Agency). Claimed that fishing sector is currently underfunded given rise to illegal fishing activities on the nations coastal and territorial waters . The inherent nature of Illegal Unregulated and Unreported (IUU ) fishing makes it impossible to accurately quantify the full global economic impact of these illegal activities which violate both national and international fishing regulations.

In July ’22, representatives of Artisan Fisherman Association of Nigeria ( AFAN ) Victims of the Shell Bonga oil spill of 2011 caĺed on the President to prevail on the multinational oil giant yo put an end tp put an end to the environmental degradation an Pollution in Niget Delta ( Ondo, Edo, Bayelsa, Rivers and AkwaIbom ).

Also of global concern is the threat of the Ocean ecosystems and Sustainable fishing loosing diverse species of fish . The overall GDP contribution from fishing ( Small scale and Industrial ) was 0.84% in 2019 and 1.09% in 2020. The House of Representatives claimed looses of about $70million yearly to illegal fishing through loss of Licence Fees and Taxation — this had been on for years.

■ At WUFAS AGRONET, we appeal to Federal Authorities to provide the Fisheries Department patrol vessels in collaboration with the Nigeria Navy to manage and use for search and rescue operational capacity , deter illegal fishing, prevent illegal unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. There is a great deal of opportunities in Nigeria aquaculture industry , the size of the domestic market and status as a gateway to West Africa together constitutes a compelling business case.

Different types of fishing methods abound. The MOBILE GALVANISED TARPAULIN PONDS shall be discussed. 

CATFISH FARMING

–ARTIFICIAL GARDEN POND

–POND FEATURES

–MOBILE GALVANISED TARPAULIN PONDS. (See graphics below)
–POND SIZE – Length x cm,Breath y cm Heigth z cm. Can contain about 2000- 2500 fish each while the water flow shall be “Flow-through” system for oxygen enhancement and to prevent acidic formation due to excretion from the fish.

— Borehole for constant water supply. With Regulated pH 7.
— Driven by submissive water pump.
— Drainage pipes from each pond into a drainage chamber into community effluent.

• Feed meals shall be a composite of Artificial compounded Fish mode of feeding in the natural ecosystem shown below.

— FARM SIZE — 40′ ×20′ (feet) behind or in front of main building.

— Are Omnivores feed both on plants and animals matters they are otherwise called “Detritivores” feeding on algea , vegetables, insects and fish eg Claridae, Mormydae, Aletea Sp mectrokids, synodectae

FOOD ORGANISM AND FEEDING HABIT OF FISH IN TROPICAL ECOSYSTEMS.

Some organism originate from ecosystem itself and others outside it.
AUTOCHLTONOUS — These are Food items that originate from the ecosystem eg .Plankton community and Benthic (occurring at the bottom or dept of the body of water or ocean ).Plankton – phytoplankton and zooplankton.
BENTHIC – are mud associated microorganisms these include the decomposed, small insect grutaceans and plant communities such as platen kins and algea, submerged or floating plant bodies.

Epilitithic community — algea associated with microorganisms.
NEWSTEM — Surface living eg Surface insects and larvae, fisheggs larvae juveniles and other organic bodies close to the water body — animal matters, insects, Arachnids, worms washed into water body.

OTHER MODE OF FEEDING OF FISHES are :

HERBIVORES – Feed mostly on plants and vegetables matters eg Tilapia, Clupeide, pellenular, ethinala finibriate. In fresh water ecosystem .

PREDATOR – Fish feeding on fish of their likes ( Pisciveres, ) and those that feed on animals (non- Piscivores )Hepsetus – Africa piks.

CARNIVORES.

The most popular Cat Fish species are Claris gerapinons or Hybrid.
Claris G. grow faster in 3months while the Hybrid growth could be very massive at 2months plus.

REPRODUCTION OF FINGERLINGS

— Reproduction is a process whereby organisms replicate themselves. It’s mainly by sexual methods in fish,this leads to a genetic variation and hybrid of new species.
■– In the instance of commercial Cat fish farming, reproduction is by Artificial insemination .

●– A TYPICAL FEED MEAL NUTRITIONAL COMPOSITION
include :

1. Soybeans meal
2. Fine fish oil
3. Meat and Bone meal
4. Poultry bye products meal
5. Hydrolysed feathers
6. Wheat flour,
7. Wheat and Rice bran
8. Corn fine grind
9. Cassava meal, antioxidant
10. Mould inhibitor
11. Antimicotoxin
12. Minerals and growth promoter.
    All these are compounded and mold/pelletised by machine
    into dried chips of 2mm, 3mm and 4.5mm the juvenile are started with 2mm and increase size of pellets with age ..

CONCLUSION
■ To improve Fish farming in the Costal brackish waters the concerned stakeholders Federal and State governments should encourage ” THE ARTISANAL AND IN-SHORE FISHERIES DEVELOPMENT PROJECTS” and provide mechanised fishing boats, Fishing gear, improved handling, Storage and Processing facilities and transport.

• The various Fishing Terminals should be expanded for aggressive fish farming.
• To improve on the shortfall of Fish FINGERLINGS more fish production centres should be established in different parts of the country. Both public and private.
• Private and individuals should be encouraged to take up fishing gardening at homes and communities.

At WUFAS AGR0Net we are Competent and Reliable Food Processing Technologists into Human Capital Development Consultancy in Food Processing Technology enhancing Global Competitiveness and International Best Practices for the teeming youthful population, unemployed graduates, propreneurs and other Food handlers. Through our Entrepreneurial Education Demonstrative Seminars in FOOD PROCESSING TECHNOLOGY. We assist in the establishment of MSMSE in agroprenuerial activities. Contact us today @ 08034064270, 08157784430. Fb page WUFAS AGRONET. Email wufasagronet@gmail.com www.wufasagronet.com