AQUACULTURE

Instruction

To avert the Malthusian trap of exponential trap of exponential population growth are the expense of logarithm food production and to produce proteins' diet at lowest cost; fish production till remain the cheapest source of animal protein is the best option to exploit. The pressure of a growing world population on a national resources in general and the fishery in particular has rise to the specter of Malthusian stagnation and even the possibility of collapsed of civilize life to our planet. A world population the current double every 35year will raise more and more dispute over such common property resources and fisheries. This is why alternative method of fish production is to be encouraged to cash up with the teeming world population. Priorities should be given in the area of procurement of research facility and the development of laboratory for disease identification monitoring; control, prevention and generic improvement.

Tremendous effort has to be injected in the human capacity building on fishery with a viable extension network to support the dissemination of fish production innovation at least cost with simple adaptive technologies.

Aquaculture or fish farm is the rearing of fish in an enclosed water environment with the aim of achieving height possible fish production in a given circumstance in the most economic manner. In some area the country especially the northern part where there is relative low and erratic rain fall and almost absence of large water bodies, these technology will be a tremendous advantage, these sub-sector wish is still virgin are with respect with great potential with economic gain need to be given priority consideration.

It is heart rendering to know that out of 2.5 million metric tons aquaculture potential in Nigeria, only 25 thousand to 300 thousand(25K-300K) capacity productions is currently available. Also out of the 4.3 billion annual fingerling requirements, only about 55.8 million total fingering supplies is currently available. The wide gap between the 4.3billion requirements and 55.8 million currently available stands as a virgin opportunity of investment of fish farming. Presently Nigeria import 7000 metric tons of domestic consumption fish, yet it cannot cash up with domestic of her teeming population.

CAPACITY BUILDING IN FISH FARMING

The fish industry still most virgin investment in Nigeria compared with the importation frozen fish in the domestic market. Local production has to be supported to increase domestic production and by extension attract foreign investors to the subsection of the economy that has badly neglected over the years.

Source of animal protein is a delicacy at all levels of production, eggs, fingerlings and grow out table-size fish, this provides opportunity for investments. The fish industries still remain the most virgin investment in Nigeria compare with the importation of frozen fish in the domestic market. Local production has to be supported vigorously to catch up with the teeming population.

PROBLEM OF FISH FARMIN IN NIGERIA

Nigeria can raise her production levels on fishery production: but the constraints to aquaculture and fish farming development been debilitating. High cost of equipment for construction of ponds, high cost and insufficient supply of quality fish seed as well as shortage of competent, experienced technical and skilled manpower are some major problems. Others are inadequate laboratory and research facility for fish disease identification, monitoring control, control, prevention and generic improvement. In the midst of all these challenges aquaculture and fishery management is gradually getting better with widespread of new entrance of individual in the form of workshops, seminars, conference, use as a medium to disseminate the innovation to the public at adoption levels with simple indigenous technology.

RECONNAISSANCE TOUR AND SITE SELECTION

Most marginal soil with poor crop production capacities can be put into good through fish farming provide the land is not too very porous and the terrain neither too hilly gravely, not too flat.

TOPOGRAPHY CONSIDERATION IN FISH FARMING

The accepted and cost effective topography for fish farming is that which allow the farmer to fill and drain the ponds with the Aid of gravity.

RECOMMENDED TECHNICAL MEASURE IN TOPOGRAPHY MEASURE IN TOPOGRAPHY

For a land with valleys, upland ponds may be established where natural valleys or hollow constructing a dam across the narrow section to impound run-off from the overlaying watershed

In locations where the land is relatively flat in terrain, lowland ponds are usually built by excavating the site and constructing  surrounding dikes to impound water. In this regard, visual survey is not advisable especially in large area, thus a topographic map showing contour lines is useful in determining the size the ponds, location of dikes, draining outlets, gates height of dikes among other features of the pond.