THE IMPORTANCE OF FISH PRODUCTION AND ITS MARKETING VALUE

CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

       Although there are thousand of years of experience supporting aquaculture in and other countries, it is relatively young industry in the United States. It is also one of the fastest growing segments of animae agriculture. Aquaculture output has grown at a rate of more than 10% for captured fishers and 3% for livestock meat production (FAO, 2000) while only 13 million tons of fish were produced in North American in 1990, there were over 31 million tons produced in 1998. Concurrently, the value of this production doubled from 490 million to nearly 81 billion (USAA, 1998).

       Human consumption of fish and related foods is increasing each year. Demand for fish products is greater than the ability of the oceans to supply them. A reduction in wild –caught fish coupled with increased consumption by American consumers has led to increased profitability, improvement in technology required for captive production, and a rapid expansion of farmed aquatic specie. As a result aquaculture is becoming a major alternatives crop globally and in many areas of the United States illustrates the increasing percentage of the total world fish production supplied by aquaculture in relation to the oceanic catch. Because the oceanic fish is no longer increasing significantly, additional production depends on growing more fish through aquaculture. Approximately 75 percent of the earths surface is covered by water yet humans harvest only 1 percent of their total food supply from this source.

BACKGROUND OF THE STUDY

       Over 4000 years ago the Chinese through trial and error developed a system approach to harvesting the nutritional riches of water. They found that different species feed in different natural niches. The animals of particular use to in the ancient Chinese were complementary varieties or crop. The common crop (Cyprinus Earpio) is abenethic that consumer invertebrates in the bottom of the ponds. For thousand of years carp species provided the Chinese with a sustainable harvest. The Chinese discovered that the use of manure as fertilizer could enhance the productivity of a pond. In the 1880s aquaculturist in Eastern Europe countries also cultured the common carp (Silver carp, black carp, grass carp), in the United States aquacultures was launched when the federal government began hatching and stocking program to restock salmon lost spawning rivers in the North West. In an attempt to increase Salmon numbers in the wild, the federal government began hatching program that were basically “put and take” system. Eggs were collected, hatched in captivity and fingerlings released. This program, although successful in increasing wild-caught number, was actually more successful in providing initial information and research for the science of aquaculture. Hatching and restocking into the wild required development of the same technology as that needed by commercial hatching. This made salmon the major marine fish industry of the United state with more than half the production coming from public because over 600 million commercial salmon landing accounting annually.

       In the 1950s the US government supported programs of farm pond construction and stocking. Although more than 2 million ponds were constructed they have demonstrated little importance for food production. In 1960s ponds were constructed specifically for catfish in the Southern United States where production fastest growing agricultural enterprises from 1970s till today. Catch moved to the Mississippi delta Region. The federal research laboratory in sluttgart, Arkansas, helped promote catfish by providing information and support. Regional government aquaculture research centers have helped bolster growth and profitability of the industry. Aquaculture production in North America involves diverse farming systems in diverse areas. It is most concentrated in the southern region of the United States. Today the US catfish industry of the largest aquaculture industry in the world employing more than 25, 000 people and generating over $ 1 billion annually. More than 178, 000 acres of catfish ponds on 1300 farms produced approximately 100 million metric tones per year. Currently 80% of the catfish production occurs in the state of Mississippi with 105, 000 acres concentrated on 400 farms. Many other commercial species are also centred in the south East Louisiana is the leading producer of craw fish and arkangas leads in baitfish production. Florida is the leading in ornamental fish, increasingly there are niches being found for hybrid stripped bass, fresh water prawns, red fish and tilapias throughout the country. Other species that have potential include allegation, bullfrogs and turtles. Production of the American cupped oyster is predominately from the united state e.g. clams, crayfish, catfish, mussels, cyprinids etc. 

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM              

       The statement of the problem are;

1.          Do we have fishing ponds in Delta State of Nigeria?

2.          Do we have enough facilities to engage in fishing production?

3.           What can the federal government do about the fishing industry

4.          What are the roles of the public concerning fish production?

OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY

       The purpose of this study is to examine the importance of fish production and it marketing value of fish production in Nigeria, which is the usefulness of rearing of fish and it nutritional value to human.

-                     To identify the marketing value of fish production in our means.

-                     To understand aquatic animals much better now than that in the past.

-                     To bridge the gap resulting from our having invested minimally in salt and fresh water food production research to compare with research investment made in food production from the land.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY 

       The study of the importance of fish production and it marketing value of fish production in Nigeria is significance not only to agriculturist but to everybody. If the contribution of US aquaculture project growth is achieved, the federal government, state government, general public at large established a good and adequate fishpond the need of today would be meet. Therefore the significance of carrying out this study is to show the influence of fish production in Nigeria.

RESEARCH HYPOTHESIS 

       The research hypotheses are stated in the alternative and null hypothesis.

1.          What types of fish do agriculturist rear in the area of study.

2.          What are the marketing value facing aquaculture production in the area of study.

3.          What are the main purpose for aquaculture keeping by the government of that state.

4.          What are the nutrients gotten from aquaculture?

SCOPE OF THE STUDY

       Due to its compulsory has been carried out in some selected areas. This is also a result of a large number of fishpond within Nigeria. The selected fishponds covered are the school of education fish pond, Gabano hotel, Uniben fish pond, delta state fish pond Ughelli.

DEFINITION OF TERMS 

       What is fish aquaculture: this is the rearing or growing of an aquatic organism under controlled or semi-controlled condition. In simple terms, aquaculture, which uses salt water than fresh water animal, crustaceans, (shrime, prawns and crayfish), mollusks (clams and oyster), reptile Clligators, amphibians bull frogs.

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