WWW.WAS.ORG • WORLD AQUACULTURE • DECEMBER 2014 57 impacts into consideration, which eventually led to a collapse of industries in those countries, it is necessary for all stakeholders in Nigeria to take precautionary measures towards sustainable shrimp farming. The clarion call for sustainability is expedient in lieu of the already degraded Niger Delta environment caused by oil pollution. Prospects for Shrimp Aquaculture Nigeria has a long coastline of 853 km and there is a long fringe of unutilized beach in the Niger Delta that could be utilized for coastal shrimp culture without destroying the mangrove. The Niger Delta is richly endowed with freshwater, brackishwater and marine ecosystems. There are many under-utilized borrow pits, lakes, springs, creeks and rivers—all of which are rich in biodiversity—that could be used for shrimp farming. The coastal shelf of the Niger Delta basin up to Qua Iboe and Cross River supports rich shrimp fisheries. Shrimp are also abundant at the mouths of Badagry, Lagos, Lekki Lagoon systems and mouths of other rivers on the Delta. Penaeus vannamei (Pacific white shrimp) and Penaeus monodon (giant tiger prawn) account for roughly 80 percent of all farmed shrimp. The freshwater prawn Macrobrachium spp are also farmed. The estuarine shrimp, Nematopaleamon hastatus, erroneously called “crayfish” locally, is a preferred condiment in many Nigerian dishes. The maximum potential yield of the Nigerian continental shelf is estimated at 3,500-4,000 t.1 The shrimp fishery is export-oriented. Annual inshore shrimp production in Nigeria is estimated at 12,000 t, of which 8,000 t are exported. Nigeria exports about US$65 million worth of shrimp to the European Union, the USA and other countries annually. This has necessitated processing to meet international standards. Nigerian shrimp is highly valued in the international market (Amire 2008). In addition, some shrimp are dried for export to other African countries. Commercial shrimp farming is a new venture in Nigeria, recently pursued by mostly oil giants and their foreign collaborators. In an attempt to boost Nigeria’s shrimp production and export, Shell Petroleum Development Company (SPDC) and the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) proposed in 2004 to embark on industrial shrimp aquaculture in the Niger Delta. This has not materialized. The Nigerian economic pursuit can no longer be dependent exclusively on dwindling capture fisheries (FAO 2008). The prospect is tilting towards aquaculture; hence, commercial shrimp farming is a welcome development. Challenges of Shrimp Aquaculture in Nigeria Development of the Nigerian shrimp and prawn industry faces the following problems and constraints: • Fully or over-exploited wild capture shrimp production. • Limited knowledge or exposure to shrimp and prawn farming. • Absence of locally produced feeds for shrimp and prawn farming. • Lack of infrastructure development. For sustainability, good seed for stocking should be obtained from standard hatcheries, of which there are none presently in the Niger Delta area. TABLE 2. Projected population and fish demand in Nigeria, 2006-2025. YEAR POPULATION FISH DEMAND (MILLION) (MILLION TONNES) 2006 140.0 2.66 2007 144.5 2.75 2008 149.1 2.83 2009 153.9 2.92 2010 158.8 3.02 2011 163.9 3.11 2012 169.1 3.21 2013 174.5 3.32 2014 180.1 3.42 2015 185.9 3.53 2016 191.9 3.65 2017 198.0 3.76 2018 204.3 3.88 2019 210.9 4.01 2020 217.6 4.13 2021 224.6 4.27 2022 231.7 4.40 2023 239.2 4.54 2024 246.8 4.69 2025 254.7 4.84 Source: Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, Fisheries Department (FDF). (CONTINUED ON PAGE 58) TABLE 3. Proposed Income Generation and Job creation for Nigeria (Source: Chemonics International Inc.) CRITERIA BASE YEAR IN 2 YEARS IN 5 YEARS IN 10 YEARS (2003) (2005) (2008) (2012) Total Export $56 Million $85 Million $168 Million $384 Million Total Job Creation 3,306 4,475 26,575 83,950
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