UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMMENo. TA 2759
Cover
REPORT
to the
GOVERNMENT OF NIGERIA
on
EXPERIMENTS IN BRACKISH-WATER FISH CULTURE IN THE NIGER DELTA, NIGERIA
1965–1968
CONTENTS


Based on the work of

K.K. Nair
FAO/UNDP(TA) Inland Fishery Biologist (Fish Culture)


FAO UNITED NATIONS DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMME (TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE)

REPORTS ON FISHERIES

This document is Report No.TA 2759 in the series of FAO reports produced under the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Since 1 January 1966, reports produced under the former Expanded Programme of Technical Assistance (EPTA) have appeared in the UNDP(TA) series. The numbering of reports in the UNDP(TA) series is unbroken and follows consecutively the numbering of the former EPTA series.

Since 1 January 1962, those reports which concerned FAO technical assistance in fisheries have been numbered consecutively in a sub-series within the general series.

The present report is the one-hundred-and-sixty-seventh in the fishery sub-series: FAO Fish.UNDP(TA) Rep., FRi/UNDP(TA) 167.


For bibliographic purposes, this document may be cited:

FAO 1969 Report to the Government of Nigeria on experiments in brackish-water fish culture in the Niger Delta, Nigeria, 1965–68. Based on the work of K.K. Nair, FAO/UNDP(TA) Inland Fishery Biologist (Fish Culture). Rep.FAO/UNDP(TA), (2759):14 p.

ABSTRACT
The objective of the project was to assist the Government in the establishment of an experimental fish farm on the Island of Buguma, Degema District, Rivers State, Nigeria, and to carry out experimental studies on the culture of locally occurring brackish-water fishes and shellfishes. The expert working on the project supervised the construction of the farm and started studies for the selection of species for culture in brackish-water ponds. Two species of local mullet and pink prawn were used separately and in combination. From a preliminary study, the brackish-water catfish (Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus) and sardine (Sardinella aurita) appeared to be suitable for culture. Studies on the common mangrove oyster in Lagos showed that it grew to an average size of 70 mm in about seven months. The common carp and fresh-water catfish, Clarias sp., were acclimatized to brackish-water conditions. The project was terminated due to the internal situation in the country. It is hoped to revive the work when conditions return to normal.

The designation employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal status of any country, territory or area, or concerning the definition of frontiers.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1969


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CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Programme development

OBSERVATIONS AND CONCLUSIONS

Completion and maintenance of the experimental farm

Sulphides and oxygen consumption in ponds

Stocking of ponds with grey mullet and pink prawn

Experimental studies for species selection

Compatibility of tilapia and grey mullet in ponds

Possibility of using tilapia as a forage fish

Eradication of tilapia from fish ponds

Mortality of grey mullet in ponds

Culture of catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus

Acclimatization of catfish, Clarias lazera, to water of low salinity

Acclimatization of common carp, Cyprinus carpio, to brackish water

Growth of the sardine, Sardinella aurita, in ponds

Spatfall and growth of the mangrove oyster

SUMMARY OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS

RECOMMENDATIONS