Areola, F.O.

English

Aquatic Commons

ABSTRACT:
TRENDS IIN UVE AH EXPORT ACTMT
N NGRA: 9S6 OQO
By
F,O Areola9
Federal Deparineiz( GfFisIseries,
Victoria Island, Lagos Nigeria.
A study of the trends in the export activities of live fish in Nigeria was undertaken between 1996 2000.
IThe major thetors relevant to the successful export activities o live fish were foui.d to include:
Seasonality (55%) Aesthetics (15%) Fish Shape (9.5%) Detoxification abilities (8%); Airline cargo assent
(6.5%) Fish size (4.5%) and fish colour (1.5%).
The live fish export trade activities tough worth at least $300,000.00 per annum in revenue to Nigeria, was
found to still be developing in management terms. It is therefore recommended that the following issues
must he addressed urgently to guarantee improvement. Organisation of the exports into a manageable
group; formal approval of the Fisheries Quarantine Services at all ports in Nigeria (for certification, export
permit, data collection ete) improved ornamental fish stock handling; development of ornamental fish
breeding alternatives for target live fish involved (aquaculture); policy imperatives (for the standardization
of export packages and labelling to meet market requirements); research into the distribution and breeding
characteristics of target ornamental live fish; and improved fund repatriation processes for live fish
exporters
JINTRODU CT ION
The exportation of' live fish from Nigeria started
about thirty five years ago by an American called
Mr. One who employed Nigerians Mr. Ono and Mr.
Chiehibere as General Manager and Manger
respectively of the export business. Mr. Jackson, an
Urhoho rriaii, father of Mr. Wilham Jackson who is
still an exporter today was the main supplier of live
fish to Mr. One. The trade has since expanded over
the year employing thousands of Nigerians. it had
however been very difficult to establish a particular
trend in the live fish export activities until recently
because a lot about the trade had, and is stiU being
shrouded in secrecy. Authethtie and reliable data
are therefore readily not available.
A greater percentage of those involved in the export
trade activities are uniformed people who are
206
overly suspicious of any move even by the Federal
Government to regulate their activities. However,
in 1992, establishment of the Inland Fisheries
Decree readily came to the rescue. The decree
states that "No person shall export or import a live
fish or any other aquatic animal without the
permission of the Minister", of Agriculture",. It
was promulgated to monitor the import and export
of live fish and for the protection of endemic
species. It thus became relatively easier to gather
information on the live fish export trade. The
following factors which include seasonality,
aesthetics, fish, colour, fish shape,
detoxification/medicinal and cosmetic abilities,
airline cargo assent, and fish size were found to be
relevant to the successful export activities of live
fish in Nigeria.
SEASONALITY:
Nigeria is blessed with abundant varieties of
ornamental fish. (See Annex I). These are most
desired in and exported to Europe (Germany, U.K.,
Switzerland, Netherlands, the United States of
America (Los Angeles, Miami), Asia and the Far
East. The most desired fish species however which
make any export worth the while (in value ) are
Long nose. Butterfly. Reed, Synodontis, and Aba
(baby) species. These are however not available all
the year round. During the period of study most of
the exporters (99.9%) collected fish from the wild
usually fi-om freshwater bodies in Lagos, Ondo,
Ekiti, Ogun, Edo, Delta, Niger. Akwa Iborn, and
Abia States. These fish species are usually found in
clean, clear bodies of water,. However, during the
rainy season, especially Juen to September. which
also happens to be the breeding season fOr these
species, the fish usually migrate to the shore where
there are grasses. They thus hide under the grasses
to feed and breed and are rarely seen. It is therefore
not easy to coin through the shrubs to fish for them.
Every year, therefore most of the exporters do not
export at all during this season. The cost benefit of
exporting other species of fishes such as Tilapia is
too low for economic consideration. Also when the
matured female fish are caught especially the
Longnose and are transported to the port for export
they release their eggs into the holding bags,
polluting the water. This is due to stock and stress
of packaging and movement. This has resulted in
high cases ofD cad Fish On Arrival (DOA) which is
sometimes as high as 100% in some cases. With the
same experience over a period of time, the
exporters have learnt not to waste any effort and
money in exporting female fish during this period.
The exporters have also confirmed that consignees
are not happy without Longnose during any
shipment because of the value and importance of
his species. Exporter are however more careful
207
now than before as a result of the financial losses
they have experienced in the past. They are also
aware of the need to preserve the brooders for
replenishment of the stocks.
AESTHETICS:
There was a general appreciation of the commonly
exported fish species from Nigeria. Although
many of them are not brightly coloured there is
serenity about these fish species, which on its own
is an appeal for acceptability. For example, when
Reed is put together in a glass tank they can be very
beautiful to behold, while the floating. Butterfly
singles them out and attract buyers especially.
FISH SHAPE:
Ornamental fish species from Nigeria have
distinctive characteristic shapes that make them
outstandingly beautiful and appealing. The
Longnose is uniquely known as Elephant trunk,
through which it feeds and the Butterfly as the
Aeroplane fish because of its wings. These shapes
are desired as they are most uncommon and
unusual in other ornamental species. Longnose is
endemic to Nigeria. Al over the world, it is only in
Nigeria that it is found in commercial quantity and
thus is of great economic importance to the
country.
DETOXIFICATION/MEDICINAL/CONSME
TIC ABILITIES:
Some of the live fish tat are desired for are
indicators of pollution in water bodies. These fish
species especially the longnose are imported for
introduction into bodies of water to lest the level of
pollution in swage systems in Europe, United
States ofAmerica and Asia.
Longuose, the most desired ornamental live fish
from Nigeria for its beauty and shape is also said to
be sought after for its medicinal values in preparing
vaccines, and anti-allergic ointments. It has also
been reported used in the formulation of body
crearnlvase lines. There are unconfirmed reports
that a number of laboratory trials are on the United
States and in Singapore in propagation this fish
species because of its varied abilities. It is use din
entertainment centres, game resorts as souvenirs,
gifts, and for prizes.
AIRLINE CARGO ASSENT:
The airline cargo assent plays an important role in
live fish export-trade in Nigeria. The major airlines
involved include Lufthansa, KLM, British
Airways. and Swissair and, Air France to limited
extent, .Luftansa airline played major role during
the period of study. When an order is placed for
fish, the exporter must have a confirmed booking
with the airline before he or she can assure the
customer and even make arrangements for the
collection from the wild, or to purchase the desired
fish species from middlemen or other operators. By
the year 2000. the operation of reaching customers
became faster. The process has also been enhanced
with improved information Technology. As of
1996 most exporters still depended on cable telex,
which gave way to fax, and by the end of the study,
electronic mail was most commonly used. Please
note, should the airlines fail to carxy the fish it does
not get to the customer quickly, and the surviving
rate is usually very low. Shipping frequency
established during the period varied from weekly to
monthly shipments, every other months, every six
months or once a year.
FISH SiZE:
The range of sizes most desired for the fish species
is 4cm at the beginning of the season to 12cm at the
208
end of the season. Exporting fish species of bigger
sizes in each range is not cost effective to the
exporter. While the exporter purchases this at a
higher local market price, uniform prices are
usually paid internationally for all sizes. For
bigger sizes, the number of fish species that can be
packed per carton is decreased in number, while the
cost of pacicaging materials to be borne by the
exporter is also higher. The smaller the fish, the
more economical the shipment is to the exporter.
For example, more of Glass cat,, Debauwi, and
Aphosenium can be packed per carton, which
converts to more money while saving packing
\niaterials, (Please note as a general rule that the
loiger the distance the less the number of fish
packed per carton).
FISH COLOUR:
Almost all the ornamental fish species in Nigeria
are dark coloured except seine species of
Krihensis, Aba, red Eye, Alestes and the Red Tail
Fish. This would have been a serious limiting
factor if not for other factors already discussed tat
have enhanced their worldwide acceptability. The
exporters in the year 2000 advocated the use of
biotechnology in enhancing the colour of
ornamental fish species from Nigeria to put
Nigerian exporters on a competitive solid ground
like Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. During
the same year, a few of the exporters showed keen
interest no only in how to catch but also in keeping
alive some brightly coloured marine fish species
such as the mullet for export.
LIMITING FACTORS.
Limiting factors identified during the period of
study included: lack of exposure and education of
the majority of live fish exporters, differential
pricing of the same commodity by different
exporters, lack of necessary communication
equipment, lack of infrastructure and appropriate
transportation of live fish from remote collection
points to the port for export. The fact that fish was
being shipped out only through Lagos port was a
major limiting factor. Ornamental live fish from
somc remote parts of the country especially the
North s not being exploited yet.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Organization of the exporters into a
manageable group:
For effective management, control, data and
information gathering there is the need for the
exporters to come together and form a recognisabie
association regulated by the laws of the land. Since
1996. the exporters had been trying to form an
association, which was yet to be registered by
December 2000. There are many emergency
exporters (touts) involved in the trade who hijack
customers of regular exporters through price war
(reduction of prices to undercut others). This led to
consignees deliberately cheating on Nigerisn
exporters through declaration of high DOAS ad
outright refusal of payments when touts offer lower
prices.
2. Fornial Approval of fisheries Quarantine
Services at aJ points in Nigeria.
During the period of this study the Fisheries
Quarantine Services were not officially allowed at
any port ir Nigeria. The need to establish this
service includes the certification of all exports, data
collection and to ensure that all exports are coveied
by export permit. which is the only source of
revenue to the Government for the fish being
removed from the while by import export at the port
the fish health can he expected. There is also the
need for a large space to be allocated for fish
quarantine at the cargo Section of the air port.
Exporters can therefore take advantage of this to
209
quarantine fish collected from the wild before
enlifting. During the period of study fish was taken
from wild stranghte from export Jeading to high
DOA.
3, Improved Fish Stock Handling:
There are been indiscriminate removal of life fish
for export from the wild which should have a long
lasting effect ontheir survival while some of this
species do not natural grow big, some are table
size.
There is the need for Government presence and
control at locations in the different states where
these fish species are collected, This is to monitor
the fish species for their preservation from
extinction and tbr government to generate revenue
by licensing those who catch this fish species from
the wild.
4. Development o tish breeding alternative
for target live fish:
There is the need to carry out research into the
breeding of the important live fish species for
export. Tue Research Institutes particularly the
Nigeriajnstitute of Freshwater Fisheries Research
NIFFR) should be closely involved and work in
collaboration with the live fish exporters for
research work in breeding, handling and packaging
of ornamental live fish. International liaison with
experienced ornamental centres in countries like
the federal Department of Fisheries and the
Research Institutes should seek Singapore. Japan
and the U.S.A. Government and her agencies must
encourage manpower development of research
scientists and local induction courses to improve
the hots of local exporters and breeder.
Government should also establish breeding centres
where large expanse of land will be made available
to interested lie fish exporters to establish research
ponds/holding ponds and to experiment on the
breeding of the different species of fish. Such
centres, which encourage collaborative
cooperation, exist and are well managed in other
countries such as Singapore.
1. Policy imperatives (For the
standardization of export packages and
labelling): a Cantons, Styroforn and
labels
Any seriousaecidental leakage could lead to a ban
on the country's live fish export, according to
international laws. It is hereby recommended that:
1. A standard in terms of carton size should be
set by Government for use by expoetrs after
consultation On standardization with the
expeorters. Each company is mandated to produce
its own carton, as it's the case with fish shrii'np
cartons for export by Industrial Fishery Section.
2. The production of Styrofoam, which is an
essential packaging material that reduces shock to
the fish in transit, should be incorporated into the
petrochemical industry of the country. A
standardized mould can be developed speeiIly for
live fish exporters.
3. There is also the need to standardize the
polyethylene package use by all exporters.
4. Labelling: It was found that all exporters
depend solely on airline labels for their cargo.
Every exporter should he made to have
standardized labels o each carton aside airline
labels.
210
Gas: Only one company BOC gas was
identified to supply the oygen gas for live fish
export activities. The prices of different sizes of
gas cylinders were however very high hindering
the movement (transportation) of fish from the
wild and for export. The cylinders are usually very
big. With the development of the liquefied natural
gas (LNG) in Nigeria a special case for gas in
portable cylinders for ease of handling could be put
forward for consideration for live fish exporters.
This should also be made readily available to
remote collection points.
c. Auxiliary Quarantine/Aquarium
Equipments:These were not readily
available in the countly. Efforts were made to
locally improvise during the period of study with
the development of carpet tanks to replace glass
tanks for increased water aeration.
d. Research into the distribution and
breeding characteristics of target live fish:A
number of locations have been identified over the
years as collection points in different states of the
Federation for these ornamental live fish. There is
however a need for research into the distribution of
these species as there are assumption that untapped
resources of these species exist in other part of the
country. It has been reported by the exporters that
large commercial quantities of untapped different
species of Synodontis exist in Lake Chad in Borno
State.
Several attempts by local and foreign groups to
propagate some of these fish species especially the
Longnose failed throughout the period of study.
There is the need therefore fOr urgent research into
the breeding characteristics of these ornamental
live fishes.
6. Improved fund repatriation process for
live fish exporters:
The appreciation of the Dollar to the Naira has been
a major sustaining factor of the live fish export
trade in the last 5 years. Though the export trade is
said to be worth at least $300,000 per annum, a lot
of export activities are not recorded, as touts carried
them out. Also repatriation of funds cannot be
adequately monitored. An unpublished data from
an airline puts the total export value of live fish
cargo for the months of March December at over,
$411,000.
Loss of revenue was recorded during the period o
study as banks dictate the exchange rate used in
converting the proceeds of live fish export.
Sometimes the banks refuse opening dorn I ii iary
accounts for exporters for official repatriation of
their export proceeds. It is hereby recommended
that this be taken up with NACCIMA so that the
actual contribution of the sector to the Nigerian
economy can be decided.
7. Ideutification of exportable marine
species (Niomr).
The Nigerian Institute of Oceanography, and
Marine Research should be empowered and
mandated to carry out her statutory role of
identifying, breeding and developing exportable
211
ornamental Marine fish species.
8 Improvement of fish colours through
biotechnology (Research Institutes).
In order to improve the market acceptability of the
country's ornamental fish species the Research
Institutes need to improve the colours of these fish
through Biotechnology. Research work, should
involve improving various other market
determining parameters such as aesthetics, size, all
year round availability etc.
CONCLUSION:
It was established during the period of this study
that seasonality was the major facto in live fish
export activities in Nigeria. A gradual trend
towards effective regulation of activity and data
collection was established. Government control of
the sector increased and became more effective.
There was great improvement in cargo assent
through improved technology. The exporters
became more enlightened and educated, the
awareness for openness and for joint effort in
regulating their activity also increased. The sector
is a potential steady source of foreign exchange.
earnings for the country if proper strategic
management policies are put in place.
Some varieties of ornamental fish found in Nigeria
S/No Common Names Scientific Names
1. Longnose/Elephant nose Gnathonemus angolensis
2. Butterfly Pantodon buchholzi
3. Shortnose Marcusenius angolensis
4. Reed Calamoichthys calabaricus
5. Aba fish Gymnarchus nilohcus
6. Knife fish Xenomystus nigri
7. Kribensis Pelvicaichromis Puicher
8. Lung fish Protopterus annecter
9. Tiger pike Hepsetus ode
10. Debauwie Eriopiella debauwi
11. U.D. Cat Synadontis nigriyentris
12. Network Synodontis eupterus
13. Jewel fish Hemichromisbimaculatus
14. Eel Mastaceinbelus armatus
15. Gobby Dorm ittator maculcites
16. Aluminium cat Chryciltus brachynema
17. Electric Catfish Malapterurs elecchicus
18. Mudskipper Periophthalmus Koulteuri
19. Puffer Tetradonfahaka
20. Mono Monodachylus sebae
21. Snakehead Chaina Striatus
22. Alestes Brycinmus longipinus
23. Occlifer Synodontis Occelatus
24. Dolphin Mormyrusdeiiciosus
25. Congo tetra Phenacogramus internitus
26. Blue fish Aplochelilicthys myersi
27. Delhazi Polypterusdeihazi
28. Roundnose Petrocephalus inacrostoma
29. Spotted cat -Parachenoglansis macrostoma
30. Red Eye Arno Arnoldichthysspilopterus.
212



Trends in live fish export activities in Nigeria: 1996-2000

http://aquaticcommons.org/1278/1/FISON2003_206-212.pdf

Trends in live fish export activities in Nigeria: 1996-2000

Abstract

Similar works

Full text

Available Versions

Aquatic Commons