Aquaculture for sustainable development in Nigeria

Aquaculture is the rational rearing of fish and other aquatic organism in man-made ponds, reservoir and cages. It is also referred to as fish farming. Aquaculture is still being practiced at subsistence level in Nigeria. It is essentially a rural, secondary and part-time activity taking place in small farms in small freshwater ponds. Aquatic organisms produced through aquaculture include fish, aquatic invertebrates, planktons and aquatic plants (seaweeds). Aquaculture came as a solution to wild stock which are been depleted, to meet the protein need of the rural population and to overcome the problems inherent in wild fisheries. The application of aquaculture has unveiled to an extent the degree to which fish farming can sustain the economy and provide the necessary protein need of the country. The management of aquaculture for fish production starts from the setting up of the farm until the ponds begin to yield. The major management problem of fishery conservation is how to control both man and the aquatic crops for the present and the future when the demand will probably be greater than now. Aquaculture is very important and is the fastest growing animal based food producing sector particularly in developing countries.