Potential for sustainable floodplain fisheries development: a case study of Tatabu floodplain

This study presents evidence from a case study of an ecological appraisal of Tatabu flood plain aimed at formulation management approaches for the enhancement of the fishing communities social economic and cultural realities. Tabtabu flood plain is located north of Jebba and at high water the ecosystems cover about 700 hectares. Fishing constitutes the principal economic activity of natural fish food and flora (especially phytoplankton and zooplankton) which support and favour the growth of over 26 fish species that belong to 15 families. Among the commercially important species in terms of dominance on percentage weight basis are Mochokidae, Cichlidae, Claridae and Characidae with an overall average standing crop of 88.24kg/ha based on gill net experiment. The study based on the intrinsic ecological attributes and local people willingness for sustained contribution of fisheries to food supply indicates that with adequate management Tatabu flood plain ecosystems have tremendous fishery potentials that would enhance the economic well being of the communities. Several management options that are applicable to similar plain are discusse

The growth and survival rate of (private) Oreochromis niloticus fingerlings fed with varying percentages of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal based diets

A-ten-week feeding trial was carried out to evaluate the growth and survival rate of Oreochromis niloticus fed with varying percentage levels of Leucaena leucocephala leaf meal as a substitute for groundnut cake. The levels in the various diets were 0% - Diet 1, 25% - Diet 2, 50% - Diet 3 and 75% - Diet 4. Ten fingerlings with an average weight of 0.44g were stocked at the rate of 10 fish per bowl and fed at 5% body weight. Diet 1 with 0% inclusion of leucaena leaf meal gave a significant difference (P>0.05) in growth and survival rate compared with diets 2, 3 and 4. The water quality parameters recorded were appropriate for fish cultur

Investment prospects in the production of the common carp (Cyprinus carpio) fingerlings in freshwater ponds

Since the introduction of Common carp Cyprinus carpio in Oyo State (Nigeria) from Israel in 1964, various local breeding methods have been employed in carp rearing to improve the survival rate at all stages of development during breeding. The physico-chemical parameters of the ponds which were simultaneously investigated for carp rearing in this study includes temperature (t), dissolved oxygen (DO) and hydrogen-ion concentration (pH). However, high rates of water displacement in the breeding ponds were unfavourable to the development of zooplankton which play important role in the food web of C. carpio. The survival rates of 15.88-69.50% and 19.60-33.83% obtained for the egg-hatchling and hatchling-fingerling stages respectively were encouraging. A breeding performance of this magnitude was found to be viable, breaking even in the fourth year. However, an increase in size of this trial project would be more profitable and increase fingerling supply as well as provide employment opportunities. This study thereby provides some baseline information on some local techniques and progress in the propagation of C. carpio and scope for further improvemen

Prospects and problems of rice-fish culture in Nigeria

This paper examines fish demand and supply and looks at on-going research works in rice-cum-fish culture in Nigeria. It examines all the pre-requisites for adopting this farming system. Economic and Financial analysis were made using experimental plots at two ecological zones of Nigeria. This farming system, which has reached advanced stage in most of Asian countries, could well be practiced in Nigeria to assist farmers to harvest both protein (from fish) and carbohydrate from rice and thereby to improve their standards of liv

Predatory size of dragonfly (Palpopleura lucia) nymphs on guppy (Poecilia reticulata)

Attainment of adulthood by a young fish is a function of environment, competition, starvation, cannibalism and predation amongst other factors. Predators do not exhibit predatory qualities from birth, it has to grow over time before the qualities are expressed. Thus, the aim of this study was to determine minimum size of dragonfly (Palpopleura lucia (Dmry, 1773) nymphs (Naiads) that can predate on guppy (Poecilia reticulata [W.K.H. Peters, 1859]) with a view to understanding predation in aquaculture. Guppies of 5mm to 12mm total length were introduced to naiads of varying lengths ranging from 2.00 mm to 10.00 mm over a 48-hour period. Results obtained showed that naiads ~. 6.00mm were able to predate on guppies while those ~, 5.5mm co-habited with guppies without predation. This study thus concludes that aquaculture management practices can be geared towards eliminating naiads ~.6.00mm, this will hopefully assist farmers to optimise human and material resources expended in the control of naiads in aquaculture

Evaluation of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus L.) fed dietary potato peels as replacement for yellow maize

The recent increase in the numbers of fast food vendors in Akure means that large quantities of Irish potato peels will be generated and discarded with high propensity for causing environmental pollution. Also the prize of maize in Akure has increased by about 31 % between January and August 2009. Therefore, the present study evaluated the bio-economic use of Irish potato peels in Nile tilapia diets with a view to achieving environmentally friendly and cost effective fish production. Nile tilapia (29.4 ~c 1.40g) was fed five diets (01-05) in glass tanks for 56 days. The basal diet (01) contained 26% yellow maize and 35% CPO Then the yellow maize in diets 02-05 was replaced with potato peels at 10, 20, 30 and 40% respectively. At the end of the experiment, growth of the fish was statistically the same in all treatments. However, fish fed 03 and 04 showed uniform and best potentials while the fish fed 05 had the worst performance indicating 30% replacement as the optimum. Economic estimation showed that lkg diet costs about (N81.6-N103.6) depending on the level of potato peels inclusion in the diets while (1.12-1.67kg) of fish was produced from each treatment with 85-95% survival rate of the fish. Incidence of cost (IC) showed marginal variations among the treatments with 30% replacement having the least and 40% replacement the highest costs of fish production. 40% replacement had the highest IC because of high mortality (15%) and poor growth of fish under the treatment. Similarly, the profit index (PI) was closely related with 30% replacement having the highest profit margin. In conclusion, both growth and economic indices established that Irish potato peels can replace up to 30% of yellow maize in diets of Nile tilapi

Selectivity of three aquatic weeds as diet for Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

A total of sixty juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (Nile tilapia) were fed three species of aquatic weed, namely Azolla filiculoides (water fern), Elodea sp. and Pistia stratiotes (water lettuce) to determine which of the weeds will be selectively consumed, and preferred of all. A control group of twenty Nile tilapia was fed compounded feed. The selectivity of the weeds was observed based on their utilization as food source, and Azolla filiculoides was found to be highly utilized, followed by Elodea sp. and the roots of Pistia stratiotes. The growth response of the fish to the diets was found to be highest for fish fed compounded feed followed by Azolla filiculoides and Elodea sp., while Pistia stratiotes produced a negative growth trend. It is therefore postulated that Azolla filiculoides and Pista sp. are good feedstuffs for O. niloticus especially when used together with other feedstuff

Sustainable management of floodplain fisheries through aquaculture in Nigeria

Fish and fish products are important sources of valuable protein and also provide essential nutrients for balanced human diets. The production of animal protein is insufficient to meet demand in many developing countries of the world. The extent to which Nigeria, a developing country faces protein shortage is alarming. This situation underscores the need to exploit all avenues of protein supply including aquaculture, in the floodplains which has been estimated to cover about 21,300km2. Fish production in the floodplains has been an integral part of domestic fish supply in Nigeria over the years. However, the integrated fish farming during the dry season in floodplains and wetlands “fadama” is gaining more popularity among the local fishing communities. This is not only boosting fish production, but also contributes to sustainability of floodplain fisheries resources. This paper therefore, reviews fisheries resources and various forms of aquaculture in the floodplains. The strategies to improve and sustain the fish production are also provided.Key words: Floodplain, fish production, sustainable management, Nigeri

Replacement of Fishmeal Using Poultry Offal Meal in Practical Feeds for Fry of the African Catfish (Clarias gariepinus)

A 70-day feeding trial was conducted to test the effect of partial replacement of fishmeal by poultry offal in the diet for fry of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Four isonitrogenous rations containing replacement of 0 (control), 30%, 60%, or 90% fishmeal by poultry offal were fed to three replicate groups of C. gariepinus fingerlings (0.74 g). Growth performance and nutrient utilization of the fish were evaluated based on weight gain, protein intake, protein efficiency ratio, specific growth ratio, gross efficiency of food conversion, and carcass analysis. The average weight gains of fingerlings fed the control (2.43 g) and 30% replacement diet (2.31 g) were higher than in fish fed the 60% (2.09 g) and 90% (2.0 g) replacement diets. The feed conversion ratio (1.48-1.62) was lowest in fish fed the control diet and highest in fish fed the 90% replacement diet. The specific growth rate, protein efficiency ratio, and apparent net protein utilization significantly decreased (p<0.05) as the level of dietary poultry offal increased. It was concluded that replacement of up to 30% fishmeal by chicken offal meal enhances growth performance of C. gariepinus fry