DEPARTMENT
OF FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE
INTRODUCTION
•
Fish
is generally believed to be a comparatively cheaper and available Fish is
generally believed to be a comparatively cheaper and available source of animal
protein in most countries around the world, especially in Nigeria. Fish and
fish products are known worldwide to be very important in the diet because of
their high nutritive value and their significance on human health.
•
Fish
is one of the most important animal protein sources available in the tropics
(Eyo, 2001). Fish consumption has impact on various stages of human life,
including pregnancy and childhood.
•
Despite the fact that fish is most widely
consumed source of animal protein in Nigeria, the level of consumption is still
far below the world average (FAOSTAT, 2005).
•
The
importance of fisheries to the Nigerian economy is indicated by its
contribution to the cross domestic products being 5.4% in 2002 (FDF). Nigerians
are high fish consumers with total consumption figures of about 1.5 million
metric tons, out of which about 700,000 metric tons is imported (FAO, 2000).
With such substantial proportion of the fish consumed in Nigeria imported, it
is important to expand local production to meet increasing demand and save the
country from avoidable negative balance of payment.
•
The
contribution of fisheries to the nation economy is very significant in term of
employment income generation, poverty alleviation, foreign exchange earnings
and provisions of raw materials for the animal feed industry.
TREND
OF FISH CONSUMPTION IN NIGERIA
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Fish,
an important source of animal protein, is in increasing demand in Nigeria. This
increase in demand is due to a number of factors such as high population growth
rate, increasing national income and increasing cost of meat and other sources
of animal protein. It was estimated that the per caput fish consumption for a
day in Nigeria, in the early 1960s, was 29.1g which represents 35% of the per
caput consumption of livestock products and 30.8% of animal protein intake
(Olayide, 1972). This per caput fish consumption was higher than any other
livestock product in the country during the period. In the 1980s, about 40% of
animal protein consumed in the country was derived from fish, with the
relatively higher per caput consumption of fish being attributed to greater
availability of this product at relatively cheaper prices (Osajuyigbe, 1981).
The total demand for fish in Nigeria was estimated at 0.940, 1,150 and 1,450
million tons for 1975, 1980 and 1985, respectively (Williams, 1986).
•
While
the demand for fish kept growing in Nigeria, the production of fish in the
country was declining. Total consumption averaged 463. 953 and 741,221 metric
tons in 1971 and 1981, respectively . This trend in fish consumption was
expected to increase in the years ahead. The projected fish consumption of over
2 million metric tons by the year 2000 and a project per caput consumption of
14.49kg for that year, which in the face of a declining index of fish
production meant a further widening of the gap between consumption and production
led to a soaring fish import bills. Adesini and Aderinola (1983) have shown
that Nigeria has a relatively high marginal propensity to consume imported fish
and that the volume of fish imports was very responsive to changes in
socio-economic factors such as population, national income and domestic fish
production.
FISH
CONSUMPTION IN NIGERIA 1971-1981
Year
Domestic production metric tons Imports
metric tons Total consumption metric
tons Projected human population Per caput consumption (kg) Source
of estimate adopted from Olayide et al., (1972) the rest of the data were
obtained from the Federal Department of Fisheries.
1971409,53754,416463,95866,3656.991972437,9715,
063503,03468,3567.361973465,075 71,410536,48570,
4067.621974473,22074,905548, 12572,8347.531975466,
236 114,186580,42274,6937.771976494, 766133,977628,
74376, 6998.201977504,014164,449666, 46378,
5578.511978518, 667202,208720,77580,5638.951979535,
435218,000753, 43582,6219.121980479,596234, 000713,59684,
7328.421981496, 221243,000741,22186,8978.53
063503,03468,3567.361973465,075 71,410536,48570,
4067.621974473,22074,905548, 12572,8347.531975466,
236 114,186580,42274,6937.771976494, 766133,977628,
74376, 6998.201977504,014164,449666, 46378,
5578.511978518, 667202,208720,77580,5638.951979535,
435218,000753, 43582,6219.121980479,596234, 000713,59684,
7328.421981496, 221243,000741,22186,8978.53
Year
|
Domestic production metric tons
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Imports metric tons
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Total consumption metric tons
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Projected human population
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Per caput consumption (kg)
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1971
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1972
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1973
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1974
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1975
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1976
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SOURCES
OF FISH IN NIGERIA
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The Nigeria fishing industry comprises of artisanal,
industrial and aquaculture. The awareness of the potential of aquaculture to
contribute to domestic production and export has become high. Fish species
which are commonly cultured in Nigeria include Tilapia spp, Heterobranchus
bidorsalis, Clarias gariepinus, Mugil spp, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus,
Heterotis niloticus, Ophiocephalus obscura, and Cyprinus carpio.
Fish can be sourced from different water bodies.
•
Rivers:
•
There are 37 rivers in Nigeria. The Niger, the most
important originated from Sierra Leone in the eastern side of the Futa Jallon
Mountains with the Benue as it most important tributary. A heterogeneous
species of fishes characterizes these rivers and is still capable of better
rational exploitation and management to enable the fisheries makes a higher
contribution to the country’s fish production
•
Rivers:
•
There are 37 rivers in Nigeria. The Niger, the most
important originated from Sierra Leone in the eastern side of the Futa Jallon
Mountains with the Benue as it most important tributary. A heterogeneous
species of fishes characterizes these rivers and is still capable of better
rational exploitation and management to enable the fisheries makes a higher
contribution to the country’s fish production
•
Lagoon/Brackish water fisheries:
•
They are important media of significant artisanal
fisheries exploitation and had contributed significantly to the fisheries
resources of Nigeria in the past. However, in recent past, there has been a
serious and rapid decline of the fisheries resources of this zone, principally
due to dredging and sand filling activities associated with urbanization.
•
Lake and reservoirs:
•
175 lakes and reservoirs with an estimated total
area of 136,160 hectares have been identified. These lakes and reservoirs can
be better exploited through deliberate stocking and better management for high
production.
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Domestic Production of Fish in Nigeria
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Fish farming or culture (an aspect of aquaculture)
is an integral component of the overall agricultural production system in
Nigeria. The
•
The African catfish, Clarias gariepinus is
the most farmed (Agbede et al., 2003).
•
In spite of the great potentials of fish farming in
Nigeria, Nigeria is still unable to bridge the gap in the shortfall between
total domestic fish production and the total domestic fish demand in Nigeria;
total domestic fish production is far less than the total domestic demand.
•
According to Zango-Daura (2000) as cited by Rahji
and Teslem Bada (2010), the country requires 750,000 tons of fish while
domestic production amounted to 350,000 tons. Fish importation makes up the
balance of 400,000 tons. Importation is thus often used to bridge the fish
supply demand gap (Rahji et al., 2001). According to Zango-Daura (2000),
Nigeria requires about 1.5 million tons of fish annually. This is what is
needed to meet FAO’s recommended minimum fish consumption rate of 12.5
kilograms per head yearly to satisfy basic protein needs. For now, the
unsatisfied demand will continue to be met through importation unless policy
actions are geared towards improving domestic productions by providing solution
to factors militating against aquaculture in country.
•
However, the huge sum of money spent by Nigeria
annually in fish importation could be used to invest in fish farming. Nigeria
can substitute fish importation with domestic production to create jobs, reduce
poverty in rural area where 70% of the population lives and ease the balance of
payment.
IMPORTATION
OF FISH IN NIGERIA
•
Nigeria spends about N50 billion on importations of
frozen fish to augment shortfall in domestic production, put at about 600,000
metric tons. Meanwhile, the demand for fish and fishery products in Nigeria has
been on the increase with supply not meeting up with the demand current
projected fish demand. According to the
Agriculture Minister, it is estimated at 2.66 million metric tons based on a
population of 140 million (Food and Agricultural Organization).
•
The Ministry of Agriculture had indicated last year
that importation of fish would be banned with the aim at saving foreign
exchange and promoting local farming, but warned that an outright ban would
have profound consequences for the people who would be abruptly denied their
sole source of protein.
•
Nigeria produced only 30 per cent of the country’s
requirements. Nigeria requires 2.66 million tons of fish annually to satisfy
the dietary needs of its citizens.
•
However, imported fish is available to the people at
hugely lower prices compared to consumers in other countries. Locally farmed
fish is nearly double the price of imported fish making it a luxury for an
average Nigeria to consume. For instance, the imported frozen fish is available
to the people at an average of N150-250 per kg, where as the locally farmed
catfish sells for a whopping N500 per kg.
•
Given the low price for imported fish, Nigerians
even from the lowest rung of the social ladder with very poor incomes are still
able to buy fish on a daily basis, meeting the protein needs of their families.
The stock of fish in Nigeria waters is negligible for trawling. Most of the
shrimps and prawns caught locally are being exported to Europe at higher
prices.
•
According to the Food and Agricultural Organization
of the United Nations (FAO) figures, Nigeria industrial trawl fishery is
dominated by trawlers using 400-600 hp engines and vessels of 45-110 meter
length overall. The fleet is currently over 300 vessels, although less than 50
per cent are actively fishing and producing only about 30,000 tons of fish and
approximately 7000 tons of shrimps.
NIGERIA
AS A DESTINATION FOR FROZEN FISH
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Since the time the government of Nigeria made a
tariff reduction on all fishery products from 25% to 5% in 2001, Nigeria has
become a major destination for imported seafood. There are various species of
frozen fish being imported into Nigeria. The Herring Mackerel (KOTE) and
croaker are expensive compared to the other species. Some canned products are
also imported. Wholesalers or retailers are located of these markets but they
purchase from importers or distributors’ cold storage facilities. Those owing
usually small cold store located within the market area, have the product
delivered directly to them.
•
The imported frozen seafood is usually shipped to
Apapa-Lagos, Port Harcourt and Warri. It is inspected, passed through custom
clearance and after clearance the products are transported in refrigerated
trucks to cold storage warehouse located within Lagos and other urban centers.
Wholesalers, usually have their cold storage facilities and purchase as the
product is offloaded or take stock from importers cold stores.
•
For health reasons, the Nigerian Government
classifies port clearance for fish landings at Nigeria’s ports as “priority”.
Importers are allowed to transport their consignments to their warehouses even
upon a partial payment of duty and port charges (usually 80%) the remainder to
be paid later at an agreed time. Imported seafood products are shipped in
branded boxes package of 20kg, 25kg and 30kg and the number of fish per box
varies with fish sizes – small, medium or large which range from 80 to 120
pieces per cartoon. Wholesalers often site their cold storage facilities in the
traditional markets. It has been found to be a difficult task to maintain low
temperature of the cold stores due to frequent power failure, manual loading
process (where temperature is lost due to opening and closing of the door)
failure of machinery due to voltage fluctuation, etc. When care is not taken,
the fluctuation in cold-store temperature does affect the quality of the fish
adversely. In most of countries, especially Europe countries, frozen fish is
pelletized and handled with forklift, whereas in Nigeria fish is off-loaded
carton by carton into the lorries or trucks. In Nigeria, most frozen fish is
transported in covered or open trucks but without refrigeration. One should,
therefore, be careful that the duration it takes to load, transport and
off-load the fish falls within a reasonable time frame. If by any chance the
fish is not offloaded on the same day and left outside the cold stores
overnight, the recovery from that fish will be less than 50% of the cost
value..
•
More than 80 percent of distribution channel members
in Nigeria’s traditional markets are retailers. The product prices are about
20-30 percent lower in the traditional markets than in convenience stores and
supermarkets. Pricing in Nigeria’s traditional markets is usually negotiated on
the spot.
•
The Federal fisheries unit issues import license to
local firms applying to import after due certifications. The Nigeria Customs
Service is the government agency for import duty collection.
FISH
CONSUMPTION: IMPLICATIONS FOR FISHERY DEVELOPMENT POLICY
•
Fisheries policy in Nigeria has been developed and
included as a sub-component of the agriculture sector in various National
Development Plans in the 1970s and 1980s. The policy covers, both marine and
inland waters.
•
There is
therefore the need to pursue more vigorously the objective of increasing the
daily per caput intake of fish.
•
This rising demand for fish in the face of declining
performances of the fishery sub sector points to the need for stepping up
domestic fish production in the country
•
Because of
the very high preference for fresh fish in the country,
there is a need to promote the supply of fish to the Nigerian market. past experience has shown that the objective
of increased fish production may not be realized unless deliberate, disciplined
governmental efforts are committed to the task. However, less than 56% of the
demand target was realized by the end of the plan, which points not only to the
need for a bold fish production programme but also an effective implementation
of development plans. A bold programme of fish production calls for, among
other things, the provision of highly subsided fishing inputs such as outboard
engines and fishing nets. In this regard, increased efforts should be made
toward the establishment of local assembly and manufacturing plans for the
domestic production of these inputs. Efforts to develop fish caning enterprises
and other fish-based industries should also be intensified. These measures,
when combined with the provision of adequate processing, storage , transport
facilities, and the provision of adequate training programmes for indigenous
fishermen will go a long way increasing the local supply of fish, and hence in
meeting the consumption requirement of fish in Nigeria.
CONCLUSION
•
This paper x-rays fish consumption in Nigeria and
what policy framework is needed to be put in place to meet the country’s fish
demand. Meeting the nation’s fish requirement is an important parameter of assessing our level of national
development.
•
From the study, it can be concluded that attention
should be given to expanding the local production of fish. This can be done by,
among other things, providing adequate training programmes on fish production
for fish farmers; dissemination of research findings using extension agents.
Fish farms should be able to access credit facilities to improve their production
outputs. Therefore, government should participate in fish farming in the area
of providing finance and fish farming inputs like fingerlings and fish feeds to
boost local production. Fish farmers should be encouraged to be organized into
formidable groups such as cooperative societies to enjoy economies of scale in
the purchase of inputs and scale of output. The formation of the cooperative
societies also makes it easy to source for labour. Efforts should be made to
ensure the incorporation of these suggestions into an effective policy
framework for the country
•
If judiciously
implemented, the measures suggested in this paper will go a long way to
stimulate the fish industry and make more fish available for consumption in
Nigeria.