Potential for poverty focused integration of aquaculture into irrigation systems in Batticaloa District

The visit highlighted the vital contribution of the inland fisheries sector to provision of basic food security within the uncleared area (farmers report very low consumption frequencies for all other fish or meat protein substitutes). A 30-mile system of Brackish water lagoons which demarcates the cleared and uncleared areas is the main source of retailed fish in the uncleared area. Second in importance is the inland tank fishery, where the bulk of production emanates from 17 major irrigation reservoirs. [PDF contains 29 pages]

Food security and poverty alleviation under the National Special Programme for Food Security: a preliminary socio-economic assessment of Yamama Lake, Kebbi state, Nigeria

The World Food Summit in its meeting in Rome in 1999 estimated that 790 million people in the developing world do not have enough food to eat. This is more than the total populations of North America and Europe combined. Nigeria is one of the developing countries affected by hunger, deprivation and abject poverty by its citizenry inspite of its enormous natural and human resources. To reduce poverty and increase food supplies to the masses the Federal Government of Nigeria embarked on a programmed-tagged National Special Programme for Food Security (NSPFS) in the year 2002. The programme's broad objectives are to attain food security in the broadest sense and alleviate rural poverty in Nigeria. One of the areas of the programme's intervention is in the aquaculture and inland fisheries development because Nigeria imported 681mt of fish in 2003 with a total cost of about N50 million. The paper assesses the socio-economic conditions of one of the selected water bodies (Yamama Lake) with a view to introducing community-based fisheries management plan for the rational exploitation and management of the fishery and other aquatic resources of the water body thereby increasing fish supply and improving the living standard of the fisherfolk in the area. Data were collected using Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) tools and questionnaire administration

Enhancement of fish production in Borno State with extension services

Borno State possesses great potentials for fish production both from inland fisheries and aquaculture. The socio-economic and environmental production factors are suitable for fish production. If the potential of the State were well harnessed, it would be playing significant roles in achieving self-sufficiency in fish production in Nigeria. But the situation at the moment is that its fisheries potentials are not being optimally utilized. While the inland waters of Lake Chad are currently being recklessly exploited, aquaculture development is given little or no attention. It is evident that there is a missing link between research results and the potential end users. Because information in fish production variables is a pre-requisite for fisheries development, the gap that exists between two poles must be bridged, fisheries Extension provides this important link between research result and the end users of research findings. The paper examines the importance of extension services as the key to unlock fish production information that are usually consigned to the pages of academic journals and research publications

GIS application to boost fish production in Nigeria

The paper discusses the application of Geographic Information System (GIS) to fisheries management. The paper presents the importance of the emerging technology of GIS and how it can be utilized to greatly speed up and make more efficient location optimizing processes and how the technology can allow for a through examination of the many spatially variable factors which might affect or control fish production both from aquaculture and inland fisheries in Nigeria

Fish demand and supply projections

It has been predicted that the global demand for fish for human consumption will increase by more than 50% over the next 15 years. The FAO has projected that the increase in supply will originate primarily from marine fisheries, aquaculture and to a lesser extent from inland fisheries, but with a commensurate price increase. However, there are constraints to increased production in both marine and inland fisheries, such as overfishing, overexploitation limited potential increase and environmental degradation due to industrialization. The author sees aquaculture as having the greatest potential for future expansion. Aquaculture practices vary depending on culture, environment, society amd sources of fish. Inputs are generally low-cost, ecologically efficient and the majority of aquaculture ventures are small-scale and family operated. In the future, advances in technology, genetic improvement of cultured species, improvement in nutrition, disease management, reproduction control and environmental management are expected along with opportunities for complimentary activities with agriculture, industrial and wastewater linkages. The main constraints to aquaculture are from reduced access to suitable land and good quality water due to pollution and habitat degradation. Aquaculture itself carries minimal potential for aquatic pollution. State participation in fisheries production has not proven to be the best way to promote the fisheries sector. The role of governments is increasingly seen as creating an environment for economic sectors to make an optimum contribution, through support in areas such as infrastructure, research, training and extension and a legal framework. The author feels that a holistic approach integrating the natural and social sciences is called for when fisheries policy is being examined.

On the Catch Assessement Survey (CAS) of Lake Victoria

If recent estimates are accurate the world’s human population can be expected to double in the next thirty years. The rate of growth will likely be even greater in many African nations, yet food supplies in these countries especially of essential animal proteins, are even not; inadequate Clearly increased production of food for domestic consumption must become a high- priority development goal. The inland fisheries of Africa will play an increasingly important role in augmenting protein supplies. In 1970, production of the inland fisheries was already-about 1.4 million metric tons, and had increased some 71 per cent in the previous six years. With further development and more affective fishery management a two-fold increase 1n output over the present level can reasonably be expected. Effective management of the fisheries at optimum exploitation levels end development of under utilized fish resources will neccessite major improvement in the stastistical systems employed to produce information on the fish stocks and fisheries. More reliable and detailed information on the catch, effort and other important aspect of the fishing enterprises will be required.

Status and management of spring-run chinook salmon

Runs have dwindled in many parts of California and additional protection or management actions are needed to protect the fish from further declines. The following is a report requested by the Fish and Game Commission on the status and current management of spring-run chinook salmon stocks. Fish counts presented in this report were developed by a variety of methods. Some of them are estimates of total run-size or spawning escapement, while others are indices of abundance derived from counts of maturing fish in their holding areas. It is important to note the stock assessment method used. Index area counts will always underestimate the true run size, often by a very large margin.

Investment prospects in inland capture fisheries with special reference to small reservoirs: the exclusive fishing right licence model

The paper discusses simple methods of estimating fish yield from small reservoirs and establishes 2 indices of fish yield based on: 1) the relationship between the catch per boat in artisanal commercial fish landings and the catch per unit effort in experimental gill-net survey; and also, 2) the relationship between standing crop of fish in reservoirs and catch per unit effort in experimental gill-net survey. The paper then elaborates on the methods of utilizing these simple relationships in managing small reservoirs in Nigeria based on the principle of exclusive fishing right licence with the objective of attracting investors into this viable inland fishery investment project hitherto untapped

Investment prospects in inland capture fisheries -- revolving loan scheme to artisanal fishermen

Fishing inputs in the form of the netting materials, boats and outboard engines were issued to 20 fishermen on revolving loan basis at 2 centres - Shagunu. and Monai along the western bank of Kainji Lake, Nigeria. The agreement was that the recipients should sell all their catches to the Institute and surrender 20% as part payment of the loan, until they offset the loan after which the inputs would become theirs'. The scheme was monitored for 5 years during which time most recipients had completed payment. It was observed that adequate revenue could be made from the scheme provided there was effective supervision. A proposal has been made for large scale supply of fishing inputs to one hundred fishermen. The scheme is laudable as a means of improving the lot of the fishermen and implementing management proposals in water bodies through the recipients

Management of inland capture fisheries and challenges in fish production in Nigeria

The paper critically examines the trend in fish production in Nigeria. The problem of excessive mismanagement and lack of attention by relevant agencies are still common place in inland water bodies. The paper discusses these mismanagement practices which are non compliance with the existing rules and regulations on good fishing methods, uncontrollable, unorthodox and obnoxious fishing practices, destruction of the natural breeding grounds and the collapse of the fishery due to massive over fishing. The challenges posed by the fishing methods as well as the effect of different gears and mechanization of fishing crafts on fish production are discussed. The paper recommends ways to increase domestic fish production in inland water bodies, which include a well planned strategy of restocking the existing reservoirs after careful scientific study, enforcement of the existing laws and regulation based on community participation. Training of stakeholders on the code of practice for responsible fisheries (CPRF), extension of subsidies to fisher folks, the traditional practices, which encourage the adherence to close season and other fish conservation and utilization strategies, are also advocated

Predicting the fisheries potentials of inland reservoirs and lakes: a case study of Kubanni Reservoir, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria

The depth, alkalinity, total dissolved solids and conductivity of Kubanni Reservoir were monitored biweekly between December 2003 and April 2004. The range values and their means were 0.8-4.64m, 42-67mg/l, 52-71mg/l and 104-142 mhos/cm; 2.8m, 42.6mg/l, 59.8mg/l and 119.6 mhos/cm respectively. Total Dissolved solids correlated significantly (P<0.05) with depth and conductivity while alkalinity correlated highly and significantly(P<0.05) with conductivity, total dissolved solids but negatively correlated with depth. The electrical conductivity was positively and highly correlated with depth while Morpho-Edaphic Index (MEI) which increased with depth decrease correlated positively with conductivity. Based on the average value of the MEI the potential fish catch of the reservoir was estimated to be 38kg/ha. This estimate was compared with other values obtained from other African reservoirs/lakes and management considerations under "private liability company" are proffered

Inland community fisheries in southern Laos

Since 1993, a series of aquatic resource co-management workshops have been on-going, established by the Lao government and fisheries agencies for village farmers in the Khong District in southern Laos, aiming for a sustainable use of inland capture fisheries resources. This article describes the mechanics involved and the participants' perspective, as well as reporting the outcomes and progress of the workshops so far.

Workshop and Symposium on Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries: Towards FAO Guidelines on Marine and Inland Small-scale Fisheries, 19-21 September, 2011, Kolkata, West Bengal, India

The workshop and symposium titled Sustainable Small-scale Fisheries: Towards FAO Guidelines on Marine and Inland Small-scale Fisheries was jointly organized by the National Fishworkers’ Forum (NFF) and the Society for Direct Initiative for Social and Health Action (DISHA), in collaboration with the International Collective in Support of Fishworkers (ICSF). The workshop was the first in a series of consultations around the world organized to discuss the Voluntary Guidelines on Small-scale Fisheries (VGSSF) and propose measures, keeping in mind the interests and concerns of small-scale fisheries and fishing communities. The workshop was also a forum to make the role of small-scale fisheries and fishworkers more visible in the context of food security, poverty alleviation and sustainable use of fishery resources. The workshop had 62 participants from both the marine and inland sectors, representing 10 States of India. The participants included fishworkers, representatives of fishworker organizations, policymakers and representatives of multilateral organizations. The workshop was structured to facilitate active interaction and discussion among participants, taking into account linguistic diversity and the contextual differences of the marine and inland sectors. This publication will be useful for fishworkers, fishworker organizations, researchers, policymakers, fish farmers, members of civil society and anyone interested in small-scale fisheries and livelihoods.

Inland prawn fisheries of India and their development

The magnitude and disposition of the inland prawn fisheries resources of the country have been described. The lack of adequate knowledge of the capture fisheries resources has been pointed out and the necessity for an organised survey of the resources and research to formulate measures for their proper management emphasised. The existing methods of prawn farming in the country have been described and the need for research for maximising yields from culture fisheries of prawn has been highlighted. Measures for immediate development of prawn fisheries of the country have also been discussed.

Fisheries marketing systems and consumer preferences in Puttalam District Sri-Lanka

The aim of this study was to understand the current and historic market situation for inland fish and it’s substitutes in order to identify which of the various production opportunities presented by the seasonal tank resource might have greatest relevance for marginal communities in the Dry-zone. Regional and sub-regional market networks for fish and meat products were investigated, ranking and scoring exercises used to characterise consumer demand in rain-fed areas of North West Province and secondary data sources were used to assess historic patterns of demand and supply [PDF contains 57 pages]