Tilapia and
Catfish are the major species farmed by local fish farmers. Apart from
these two fishes that i know that are farmed locally and some indigenous fish.
95% fish consumed in Nigeria are imported. There are various species of
frozen fish being imported into Nigeria and these include Herring, Horse
Mackerel (Kote), Mackerel(Titus), Croaker, Sardines, Alaska Pollock, Blue whiting and some
canned fish products are also imported.
Nigeria
has been a major importer of fishery products given its ever increasing
consumption and lack of sufficient internal sources. Fish Imported into the
country is estimated to be 1 million tons yearly.
Smugglers
are beginning to flood the markets with harmful frozen fish illegally brought
into the country through land borders.
According
to the government, the smugglers bring in all sorts of frozen fish such as
tilapia, red pacus, river bream, pangassius, horse mackerel, sardine, and
croaker through the country’s land borders.
The
Nigerian government, ministry of agriculture and water resources should wake up
to formulate policies to create the enabling environment for local fish
production. Nigeria has not make use of 10% of its water resources.
Or else
this will continue to be a mystery
due to lack of vision by the government.
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