Fish farming species and systems are as old as mankind and its one of the earliest forms of agriculture.

 

The people of old believed and it was their undeniable notion that the open waters are no man’s properties. As a result, fishing activities with crude methods were on the increase along the coastline for their livelihood.

 

During this time, humanity evolved in harmonious equilibrium with marine resources (ecosystems). Economic status of the people in the business encouraged others coupled with the mentality that it is a free gift of nature and common heritage of mankind. Overpopulation was the major factor that made man jeopardize this precious food supplies. However, prehistoric humanity sometimes wasted resources through unrestrained effort.

 

Fisheries development was exhausted through overfishing; fisheries management is now the order of the day both in inland and sea water environments for rational exploitation.

 

Fish Resources of Nigeria

They are two major groups namely:

1. Freshwater fish stock
2. Coastal fish stock

 

 

Fresh Water Fish Species

Rivers with the adjoining flood plains, streams, lakes and many reservoirs, ponds, dams etc. make up Nigeria’s fresh water environment. Research has established that nine indigenous and three exotic fish species are cultured all over Nigeria. These include the 38 culturable species of both fin and finless fish in the country and they are found to concentrate in the following families:

 

 

S/N	Family Name	English Name
1	Clariidae	Catfish
2	Cichlidae	Tilapia
3	Osteoglossidae	Bony tongue
4	Cyprinidae	African carps
5	Clupeidae	Clupeid
6	Ariidae	Sea catfish
7	Anabantidae	Climbing perch
8	Tetraodontidae	Puffer fish/globefish
9	Hepsetidae	African pike
10	Mormyridae	Trunk fish
11	Protopteridae	African lung fish
12	Polypteridae	Bichir
13	Dasyatidae	Ray
14	Gymnarchidae	Gymnarchus
15	Mochokidae	Catfish
16	Malapteruridae	Catfish
17	Channidae	Snake head fish
18	Citharinidae	Moon fish
19	Bagridae	Silver catfish
20	Centgropomidae	Nile perch
21	Characidae	Tiger fish

 

 

 

Coastal Fish Species

Coastal fish resources can be sub-divided into two main areas:

Coastal demersal fish resources

 

Brackish water fish resources

 

 

 

Coastal Demersal Fish Resources

These resources can be divided into 3 in respect of where they occupy. They include:

1. Sciaenid Community: this community occupies two zones: (a) Estuaries (b) Offshore (on soft deposits on the base of the thermocline). Examples include Arius spp, croakers, mackerel, sole fish etc.

 

2. Sparid Community: these lives in the deep sub-zone stratum and shallow sub-zone on corals or rocky surfaces. Examples include snappers, sardines, trigla etc.

 

      

 

3. Slope Community: this overlaps with the deep sparid community. Examples include hake fish, capross spp etc.

 

 

 

Brackish Water Fish Species

Brackish water areas in Nigeria are found along the coastal zone. They include: estuaries, lagoon, mangrove swamps fronted by the beachridge barriers. The fish resources adapted to the area include: Clarias gariepinus, Hemichromis fasciatus, Ethmalosa fimbiata (Bonga) and Tilapia melanopleura

 

Fish as Source of Food

The need for balanced feeding in any economy is apparent and cannot be over-emphasized. The major foods in Nigeria are grossly deficient in protein such that a larger proportion of the people feed on foods richer in carbohydrate than protein. Therefore, continuous production of fish must be thoroughly examined on regular basis to contribute to national nutritional wellbeing.

 

 

Fish provides an excellent balance of calories and fish is of high quality protein. Fish is the cheapest source of protein in terms of:

1. Indispensable protein building blocks
2. Balanced levels of amino acids i.e. amino acids present in fish are combined in the right proportions required in a balanced diet

Also, the percentage of edible lean tissue in fish is appreciably greater than in beef, pork or poultry and renders them unsuitable as a sole source of dietary protein.

 

 

Fish Production Systems

There are three broad fish production systems in Nigeria. These include: Industrial fisheries, Artisanal fisheries and Aquaculture

 

Industrial Fisheries

Industrial fisheries sub-sector involves and depends largely on the use of trawling vessels for fishing and shrimping in the territorial and offshore waters.

 

In this sub-sector of a higher and mechanized level of fish production, Nigeria is rich in shell fish resources in commercial quantities. The marine resources available to this fishery are made up of demersal, pelagic and shell fish (crabs, prawns and shrimps) stocks and are of economic importance

 

 

Artisanal Fisheries

Artisanal fisheries are fishing operation carried out with local canoes and simple fishing gears. Also, this fishery is characterized by intensive labor, low capital investment and low productivity. The operational crafts exploit coastal waters and extensive network of brackish waters. Also, artisanal fishermen reserve the first 5 nautical miles of the territorial waters mainly for exploiting major rivers, lakes and various reservoirs.

 

 

Aquaculture

This is basically fish farming towards increased fish production. Undoubtfully, there are potentials for aquaculture development in Nigeria with 1.75 million hectares of suitable sites for fish farming. Nevertheless, this sector is poorly developed as only 2,000 tonnes of fish are produced annually. Aquaculture can be practiced at the following levels of intensity.

 

Aquaculture can be practiced at the following levels of intensity:

1. Intensive recirculating systems (5 tonnes per week)
2. Commercial fish farm (extensive and semi-intensive production systems)
3. Homestead ponds (concrete blocks 50m²)
4. Subsistence pond (50m²—150m²)