1.0 Introduction
1.1 Background to the Study
Fish farming is the rearing or production of fish in a semi-controlled environment like ponds, cages, tanks, irrigational canals, reservoirs and other types of enclosures (Ayodele and Ajani, 1995). It is a well-established industry in many parts of the world especially in Asia and Africa. Modern-day fish farming is traced to ancient China in Southeast Asia as well as ancient Egypt in North Africa and the Roman Empire in Europe where food fishes were produced in static and limited ponds. The process of production was described as extensive whereby fish were cultured or raised in an environment similar to their natural habitat (Wedemeyer, 1996).
Fish farming as an economic activity was first introduced into Nigeria about 66 years ago with the establishment of a small experimental station at Onikan in Lagos State, Agodi in Ibadan, Oyo State, and an industrial farm (20 hectares) at Panyam in Plateau State by the Federal Government of Nigeria (Ayodele and Ajani, 1995). Since the establishment of fish farms was spear-headed by the Federal Government of Nigeria, fish farming had received some attention from the government through her programmes on agriculture such as the establishment of Aquaculture and Inland Fisheries Project and the Presidential Initiative on Aquaculture in 2005.
Among the different food production systems around the world, fish farming is widely seen as an important weapon in the global fight against poverty, malnutrition and food insecurity, particularly within developing Countries like Nigeria and Ondo State in particular.
…