Effective fish health management strategy in Nigeria: A review

Abstract

The paper reviewed issues of increased aquaculture production in the country and the need to address the
health of fish for consumer’s safety. Nigeria has moved rapidly from aquaculture production level of 25,720
metric tonnes in 2000 to 85,087 metric tonnes in 2007 as reported by the federal Department of Fisheries
while the estimated aquaculture potential is actually 2.5 million metric tonnes. The aquaculture sector has
recently been characterised by high capital investment, intense material and labour inputs, more over one of
the policy objectives of the national aquaculture strategy is to achieve an effective National safety and
quality assurance system that can protect consumer’s health. The consumer can only be protected through
production of healthy fish. Fish health care is an aspect of aquaculture design and management; hence the
need to put in place all points of hazard critical control programme that will meet the required international
standards at the farm level. Meanwhile, the Fish Disease unit at the Federal level should mandate all
departments of Fisheries at the State level to set up Fish Disease unit and appoint focal officers for fish
health management. Training institutions must endeavour to review their curriculum on fish diseases in the
various aquaculture programmes to pay adequate attention to emerging fish health issues.