Fish Farming in Nigeria receives little attention, but it’s the most accessible source of protein in the nation, with Tilapia and Catfish farming being the most prominent. Lagos, the urban area and Nigeria’s former capital is the largest producer, with about 174,000 metric tonnes of fish annually. The state has an abundance of water bodies, including lagoons, creeks, and coastal areas. Fishing in Nigeria remains largely at the subsistence level. As a developing country, many Nigerians live in rural areas. These rural indigenes contribute to health hazards where water bodies often face degradation from waste disposal through physical, chemical, and biological contaminants.
Dr. Soyinka, a lecturer in the Department of Fisheries, University of Lagos, Akoka, Nigeria, reiterates the untapped potential of fish farming in the country that remains unharnessed. “The climate in Nigeria provides a favourable environment for both natural and artificial culturing of fish. We are mainly limited by unavailable resources, particularly due to a lack of government support for fish farming. In the Lagos Lagoon alone, during my past research, we identified around 72 native species of fish and about 50 more species in other Lagoons, illustrating the vast diversity of fish species in our Lagoon. However, the effect of pollution presents a significant challenge for these creatures in their natural habitat.”
Dr. Soyinka believes that Nigeria’s vast number of fisheries resources as a protein source can cater to the population’s size. Despite Nigeria’s vast fisheries resources, malnutrition remains a serious issue, with 37% of children, around 6 million, experiencing stunted growth from chronic malnutrition. And 18% suffer from acute malnutrition. Fish feed in Nigeria includes essential ingredients such as sorghum, groundnut cake, fl our, maize, and cassava to sustain natural feeding. For my own final year thesis as part of my Marine Science degree, I explored some selected leaves as an alternative viable protein source in fish feeding. I discovered ered the the availability availability of of protein protein sources sources that that could could be be incorporated into fish feeds.
These These leaves leaves include include Lantana Lantana Camara, Camara, Luffa Luffa Aegyptica, Aegyptica, water hyacinth, Gliricidia sepium, and Ipomoea aquatica. They were sourced from the university campus, Ikorodu waterways, and the submerged Lekki Region. The University environment has an abundance of viable leaves due to being surrounded by the Atlantic Ocean. While extracts contain a small quantity of protein, they could bolster the protein supply, but the process isn’t easier for fish farmers to process.
Most Nigerian fish farmers are often based in communities near water bodies, such as Makoko and the Niger Delta. Makoko is a community built on stilts along Lagos Lagoon and across the Third Mainland Bridge, the largest bridge in West Africa. These individuals operate without fishing licenses and rely on traditional tools like canoes, fishing poles, and metal hooks. In 2015, Nigeria’s total fisheries production was estimated at 1,027,000 tonnes, with 36% from marine catches, 33% from inland waters, and 31% from aquaculture. Although Nigeria heavily lags in production through catches compared to global fisheries numbers, aquaculture still accounts for 51% of the global total, leaving farmers without exploring aquaculture’s potential. Mr. Abdullahi Idowu, a Nigerian graduate in Fisheries who is now pursuing a master’s degree in Biological Sciences (Immunology minor) from Purdue University Fort Wayne, USA, and currently a graduate research assistant, contrasts the dynamics of Fish Farming in Nigeria and the USA. “The regulatory framework is a major difference that governs the two countries in terms of Fisheries and their enforcement. In the USA, the industry is tightly regulated at the federal, state, and local levels with bodies like NOAA, USDA, USEPA, etc. They frequently oversee fish farming in the USA, performing regular and daily inspections of equipment, waste disposal management, and animal husbandry methods. To farm commercially, you need a license, unlike in Nigeria. While these bodies are also available in Nigeria, they are limited due to many factors, especially limited resources and corruption. There is also limited awareness, especially for local farmers as someone who had worked on farms in both countries.”
Scientifi Scientifi c c research research on on fifi sheries sheries and and aquaculture aquaculture is is limited, limited, but but with with enough enough research, research, it it will will allow allow farmers farmers access access to to new new methods methods that that could could improve improve their their fifi sh sh health health without without using using conventional conventional synthetic synthetic medications medications such such as as a a broad broad range range of of antibiotics antibiotics (oxytetracycline). (oxytetracycline). The The use use of of these these con- conventional ventional medications medications on on fifi sh sh leads leads to to contaminated contaminated waste waste in in water, water, affecting affecting fifi sh sh in in their their natural natural habitats. habitats. Nigerian Nigerian farmers farmers generally generally use use concrete concrete and and plastic plastic fifi sh sh ponds ponds for for aquaculture. aquaculture. “Despite “Despite fifi sh sh farming farming being being a a goldmine goldmine here here in in Nigeria, Nigeria, it’s it’s heavily heavily neglected. neglected. I I believe believe that that fifi sh sh farm- farming ing could could alleviate alleviate poverty poverty in in the the country. country. Norway Norway and and the the Netherlands’ Netherlands’ major major source source of of revenue revenue is is fifi sh sh farming. farming. How- However, ever, the the problem problem is is that that we we keep keep culturing culturing only only two two specif- specific ic species: species: catficatfi sh sh and and tilapia. tilapia. I I hope hope for for more more governmental governmental funding funding for for scientifiscientifi c c research research to to produce produce fifi sh sh feeds feeds locally, locally, reduce reduce importation importation costs, costs, and and save save fifi sh sh farmers farmers from from exor- exorbitant bitant buying buying prices,” prices,” says says Dr. Dr. Soyinka. Soyinka. While While fifi sh sh farming farming can can be be profiprofi table table in in Nigeria, Nigeria, constant constant disease disease outbreaks outbreaks cause cause major major revenue revenue losses. losses. Organisa- Organisations tions like like NIOMR NIOMR and and some some NGOs NGOs work work to to mitigate mitigate these these losses. losses. Unfortunately, Unfortunately, Nigerian Nigerian governmental governmental entities entities often often overlook overlook tax-paying tax-paying citizens’ citizens’ welfare. welfare. In In April April 2024, 2024, a a La- Lagos gos fifi sh sh farmer farmer lost lost over over 100 100 million million naira naira (about (about $60,000) $60,000) due due to to irresponsible irresponsible dredging dredging activities activities by by a a mineral mineral re- resource source company. company. They They had had been been involved involved in in a a dredging dredging ac- activity tivity that that polluted polluted the the water water and and killed killed his his fifi sh. sh. Most Most of of the the time, time, the the fifi shing shing overview overview in in Nigeria Nigeria has has farmers farmers contend- contending ing with with unfavourable unfavourable government government policies. policies. “The “The usage usage of of recirculatory recirculatory aquaculture aquaculture systems systems in in the the USA USA enables enables effieffi cient cient waste waste disposal disposal by by recycling recycling water. water. This This is is an an effieffi cient cient fifi sh sh farming farming system, system, and and I I believe believe Nigerians Nigerians can can enforce enforce this this more more in in terms terms of of technological technological improvement improvement in in fifi sh sh farming farming and and agriculture agriculture in in general,” general,” says says Mr. Mr. Idowu Idowu Abdullahi. Abdullahi.
This This system system has has a a long-term long-term benefibenefi t t for for both both fifi sh sh and and other other aquatic aquatic life life as as well well as as the the environment. environment. For For many many Nigerians, Nigerians, natural natural water water also also serves serves as as a a form form of of recreational recreational activity activity and and could could become become a a problem problem when when it’s it’s contaminated. contaminated. Pol- Pollution lution poses poses many many environmental environmental risks, risks, such such as as biodiversity biodiversity loss loss and and economic economic damage. damage. In In rural rural areas, areas, indigenes indigenes rely rely on on natural natural water water for for bathing, bathing, cooking, cooking, and and drinking. drinking. This This leads leads to to problems, problems, compromising compromising the the immune immune system system of of both both hu- humans and aquatic health.
Nigeria’s Nigeria’s waste waste management management could could be be improved improved through through in- instituting stituting and and strict strict enforcement enforcement of of well-defiwell-defined ned regulations. regulations. Waste Waste disposal disposal takes takes many many forms, forms, and and during during my my own own time time as as an an environmental environmental intern intern inspecting inspecting ships ships at at the the Nigerian Nigerian Ports Ports Authority, Authority, I I witnessed witnessed ingrained ingrained bribery bribery and and corrup- corruption tion among among offioffi cials cials in in handling handling vessels vessels polluting polluting the the water water bodies. bodies. The The current current system system of of Nigerian Nigerian governmental governmental spac- spaces es is is flfl awed, awed, and and without without accountability, accountability, positive positive change change becomes becomes hard hard at at the the expense expense of of our our aquatic aquatic ecosystems. ecosystems.
About the contributor
Obinna Tony-Francis Ochem is a marine science (fisheries major) graduate and a freelance writer navigating gender, class, sexuality, climate change, and shape-shifting monsters.
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As published in Issue 1: A World of Possibility. Click any page to view it full size.
First published in Issue 1: A World of Possibility, the Innately Science newspaper.