The potentials for commercial production of fish feeds in Nigeria

Studies in fish feed technology revealed that there is a potential for big time investment into fish feed production and marketing in view of the growing awareness of fish farming in Nigeria. Intensification of aquaculture is one of the primary methods of food (finfish) production which requires technical knowledge and expertise in the formulation and manufacture of adequate feeds for the cultured species. Studies also revealed that all sort of food items were used by fish farmers ranging from animal dung, groundnut cake etc, to culture fish to table size because of non-availability of rightly prepared feeds. Inadequate knowledge of detailed requirements of tropical cultured species was found to pose a hindrance to formulation despite the fact that a lot has been accumulated in terms of biochemical and nutritive values of food sources in Nigeria. The investigation further revealed the challenges posed to researchers in aquaculture, fish nutritionists and fisheries biologists among others to elucidate the complete requirements of local fish species in terms of their protein, lipid and carbohydrate requirements such that their patents could be made available to companies like PFIZER, IBRU etc, and individuals alike to make commercialization of fish feeds a reality

Commercial production of natural freshwater fish food

A review is made of some of the methods that can be used for mass cultivation of natural fish food and the types of organisms that are cultured, which include various algae and zooplankton. Some examples are given of successful case histories in the mass cultivation of natural fish food in order to stimulate the interest of Nigerian scientists on research activities of live fish food for use by fish farmers in the country

Commercial production of fish meal from fish waste

The importance of fish meal production as a means of reducing fish waste currently being experienced in the fisheries subsector is discussed. Cost estimate for Nigeria establishing a fish meal manufacturing plant and suggestions on rational execution of the project are presented. If properly located and well managed, the project will serve to convert fish waste to cash in the industrial fishery

Investment in the training of technologists for commercial aquaculture

The protein shortage in Nigeria is noted and the role of aquaculture (=fish farming) as a complement in increasing the dwindling food supply is registered. In addition, the manpower shortage especially in the technology cadre is noted and attributed to the lack of co-ordination and standard curricula especially in aquaculture. An inventory of tasks performed in the aquaculture industry was taken and these were classified and validated, then their final priority level was used to assess which ones were critical, important or desirable and which ones would result in disaster or not with inadequate mastery. Based on the above, recommendations are made that all critical and important tasks be included in the teaching curriculum for aquaculture in both theory and practicals: while it is advocated that all tasks listed be undertaken in fish farm operations. This will raise the competence of technologists to run the commercial aquaculture projects

Commercial pond fish culture

Commercial pond fish culture practice is comparatively new in Nigeria. It is therefore very important that simple guidelines be provided for the establishment, development, and management of such projects. The objective of this paper is to fulfill this urgent need. All aspects of commercial pond fish culture are dealt with. Fish pond operations comprise of pond preparation, stocking, rearing, and harvesting. These have been highlighted in the text, bearing in mind that the most important principle of fish culture is the acquisition of maximum production of marketable-size pond fish from a given unit area

A review of recent advances in commercial tilapia culture

The paper introduces the tilapias as important culture fish; their classification, breeding habits and general ecology are discussed. The versatility and plasticity of their reproduction and growth are major advantages as well as draw backs in their use as culture species. The culture of tilapias in ponds, cages, pens and raceways are described and a comparison of extensive and intensive cultivation is made. The major factors in commercial cultivation of tilapias such as feeds, hatchery/fry production and disease control are discussed. Recommendation is made for the consideration of tilapia as the equivalent of the common carp in tropical African fish culture in either monoculture or in polyculture with other fish species

Commercial pond fish culture using waste water

Waste water from some National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) housing units in Nigeria was fed to a 0.4 ha pond which was stocked with 2,200 Sarotherodon galilaeus fingerlings with a mean weight of about 36.0gm and 1000 Cyprinus carpio fingerlings with a mean weight of 10gm. This yielded after 10 months, over 2300 kg of harvestable fish plus over 20,000 Sarotherodon galilaeus fingerlings. The growth rate of C. carpio was not very encouraging possibly because of the type of plankton that colonised the pond. The S. galilaeus became stunted because of overpopulation as there were no carnivores to control their excessive breeding. The physico-chemical parameters were favourable for the growth of fish food organisms

Some experiments on commercial pond fish culture in the tidal mangrove area of Niger delta of Nigeria

A pilot fish culture project was initiated by Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited in 1981 with specific aims and objectives. Site selection, survey, pond construction method and fish production with regards to experiences gathered and gained, problems and solutions so far obtained are discussed. Trials of freshwater fish species to check their adaptability to brackishwater ponds were carried out and the promising results of the growth rate of these species when compared with the traditional local brackishwater species selected for culture are reported. The extension programme so far carried out is briefly described

Commercial cage fish culture

With increasing emphasis in Nigeria on aquaculture as an alternative to dwindling artisanal fishing and scarce foreign exchange for fish import, cage fish culture, is a more profitable aquaculture practice than pond culture. It appears to be one of the most viable business ventures with minimum risks. It is a highly recommendable project

Commercial aquaculture in Nigeria: a vertically integrated approach in the commercial freshwater farming of tilapia in floating bamboo net-hapas and cages systems

Tilapia once termed "poor man's" fish, still remains as the highly-priced food fish in many developing countries. The good attributes of this fish prompt its use in intensive aquaculture vertically integrated systems (VIS) which embrace broodstock development, hatchery/nursery and growout phase. Based on the series of studies carried out at Kainji Lake Research Institute, in New Bussa, Nigeria using Oreochromis (Tilapia niloticus) in floating bamboo hapas/cages, the recommended intensive modular systems were estimated to be capable of producing 4 million Tilapia fingerlings and 729 tons fish (Market-size) annually. Cost-benefit analysis showed the venture to have high prospects. It is recommended that priority be given to Tilapia cage culture at the national level in order to contribute immensely towards increased fish production

A design for commercial production of catfish (Clarias lazera) in multiple cages

The findings are given of a preliminary study on the appropriate economical feeding rate which would enhance the growth of catfish (Clarias lazera) in cages in Lyi-ojoo Lake, Nike, Nigeria, providing also the details of the design of a practical floating platform that can be used for the culture of fish in multiple cages

Commercial mariculture of Oreochromis niloticus using net cages

The culture of tilapia has a long history in Africa. Fossil remains of members of the genus have been found which are about 18 million years old (Fryer and Iles, 1972). Oreochromis niloticus was the subject of detailed observations in Egypt of 5,000 years ago. A bas relief of 2,500B.C. depicts tilapia being reared in ponds in Egypt. However, despite this long history the prolific nature of this fish results in very high populations in pond culture systems. Consequently small size fish are harvested. Several methods have thus been tried to control the excessive reproduction of tilapia in captivity with only partial success. This paper reports how large size tilapia especially O. niloticus averaging at least 150g per piece can be commercially produced using floating net cages in the marine environment

Length-frequency estimation for yellowfin tuna (Thunnus albacares) caught by commercial fishing gear in the Eastern Pacific Ocean

ENGLISH: Methods of collecting samples for the purpose of estimating the numbers and weights of fish caught, by length interval, are described. Several models for two-stage sampling are described, and the equations for the estimators and their variances are given. The results from a brief simulation study are used to show the differences between estimates made with the different models. Estimators for the average weights of fish in the catch and their variances are also described. These average weights are used to provide improved estimates of the total annual catches of yellowfin taken from the eastern Pacific Ocean, east of 150°W, between 1955 and 1990. SPANISH: Se describen los métodos de recoger de muestreo para estimar el número o peso de peces capturados, por intervalo de talla. Se describen varios modelos para el muestreo de dos etapas, y se presentan las ecuaciones para los estimadores y sus varianzas. Se usan los resultados de un breve estudio de simulación para indicar las diferencias entre estimaciones realizadas con los distintosmodelos. También se describe un estimador para el peso promedio de peces en la captura y su varianza. Se usan estos estimadores para calcular estimaciones mejoradas de las capturas anuales totales de aleta amarilla tomadas del Océano Pacífico oriental, al este de 150°W, entre 1955 y 1990. (PDF contains 41 pages.)

Some aspects of the dynamics of populations important to the management of the commercial marine fisheries

(PDF contains 33 pages)

Poverty alleviation among fishermen within the floodplains of Kaduna River: implication for introducing commercial fish farming at village level in Doko local government area of Niger State, Nigeria

A diagnostic survey was conducted among the fishermen in six selected villages in Doko Local Government Area of Niger State. One hundred and fifty fishermen were randomly selected and interviewed to find out whether or not they had interest in commercial fish farming aimed at improving their livelihood. The dwindling fish catches in the natural flood plain ponds and Ex-bow Lakes continue to have a serious negative effect on the socio-economic well being of the village communities in question. A break on natural regular annual flooding of the plains had resulted into very low natural fish recruitment. Data analysis using simple descriptive statistics revealed that land tenure system, educational status, inadequate infrastructural facilities, religious taboos, existing fish species among others were found to be favourable indices for commercial fish farming. However, serious conflicts among the fishermen concerning the ownership status of these natural fish ponds are found to be major obstacles to commercial fish farming despite that the traditional ownership of the ponds were vested in the lands of individuals and village communities. Extensive fish farming and small-scale fish farming in the ponds and Ex-bow Lake with improved management practices are considered to be profitable venture. Despite the fact that fish seeds supply and extension effort are still inadequate, the fish farmers have indicated willingness to adopt commercial fish farming in the Ex-bow Lakes and flood plains in order to restore abundant fish production thereby providing for their food security and also increasing the daily income