Thousands of Nigerians are engaged in fishing every year, in addition to strong state support, but also it is a lucrative industry. Fish farming is the most common form of aquaculture, including in Nigeria and throughout Africa. The strong demand for salmon, catfish, tilapia, and other aquatic products in Nigeria has been driving the continuous development and expansion of the industry.
Great market potential
There is a huge market potential for aquaculture companies across African countries, especially Nigeria. Besides fish product being the most sought after and consumed agricultural product in Nigeria, it can also give farmers a profitable business. Fish is less expensive than meat, and it’s an affordable high-protein nutrient when buyers can’t afford meat or just want a meal. The explosive market size of this farming industry has made it a new and profitable business that is constantly attracting new, interested farmers to join.
Low operating cost
The cost of starting and operating an aquaculture farm is low compared to many other farming operations. Compared directly to poultry farming, fish farming has a lower operating budget due to its lower fish feed volume and operating costs. In addition, poultry products are highly susceptible to dangerous diseases (such as bird flu), which can cost farmers a lot of investment if not handled properly, but fish farmed products are less harmful.
Government support
African governments have vigorously developed aquaculture and issued various policies and measures to encourage farmers to develop aquaculture. such as financial support so that farmers can successfully start their farms
Great source of protein
Despite the financial advantages that fish farming offers, fishery products, as a source of protein, also assist the general public’s health. Fish farming would consistently stand as a nutritious protein-rich meal with rich health advantages for everyone because millions, if not billions, of people consume fisheries products every day.
Although aquaculture brings many benefits, there are also some disadvantages in the process. What we need to do is to identify and avoid these difficulties as soon as possible. Below are some of the difficulties faced by the aquaculture industry.
Disease outbreak
Disease outbreaks are the biggest concern of fish farmers in the farming process, and the losses it brings are unpredictable. Columnar, gill disease, ick, edema, caudal fin rot, fungal infection, vitiligo, exophthalmos are common fish diseases. If any of these diseases occur, it can spread to the entire fishery on a large scale. For this reason, fish farmers must always keep an eye on the health and condition of their fish.
Climate change
Climate change such as floods, droughts, etc. can take a huge toll on your fish farm, especially farmers who keep fish in ponds or rivers. These factors cannot be detected or prevented. In the event of a flood, a large number of fish are washed ashore and die due to lack of oxygen. Drought stripped fish of their natural habitat and then accelerated their mortality over time. Not to mention the silt that washes into the water source, which blocks sunlight and causes turbidity that deprives the fish of oxygen or contamination, which affects their reproduction and life.
Business risk
All other commercial fish farming activities, as well as the fish production process, are also directly affected by these factors.
1) Equipment failure
There are many tools used in fish farming, including water pumps, seine reels, fish feeders, buckets and buckets, aerators/air pumps, etc. Fish can die from damage to pumps, feeders and other similar equipment. Avoid this by ensuring that every piece of machinery is in good condition and regularly maintained to prevent operational breakdowns.
2) Lack of experience and technology
Inexperienced fish farmers can inappropriately treat fish and, worse, cause damage to the farm. Make sure that novice fishermen receive proper fish farming instruction and more than three months of training, in this way they will learn the necessary knowledge skills and improve their ability to deal with various risks.
3) Feed and drug costs
Fish farms often suffer from malnutrition or disease outbreaks. Before starting fish farming, fish farmers save money for feed and to buy medicines. However, the cost input has increased significantly due to the rising cost of high-quality food and vaccines.
Steal
During the breeding process, there will be theft or sabotage, resulting in certain losses. Timing is unpredictable and, depending on the intensity of the robbery, significant property damage can also occur. These thieves steal close to the fish’s underwater habitat, contaminating the water in which the fish live and affecting fish farms. Farmers should work to ensure that your fish farm is as safe as possible to reduce this risk. Install security CCTVs around fish farms to look for suspicious activity day and night, and take security precautions to reduce the likelihood of farm theft and looting.