Tilapia and Catfish are the major species farmed by local Fish farmers. Apart from these two fishes that i know that are farmed locally and some indigenous fish. 95% fish consumed in Nigeria are imported. There are various species of frozen fish being imported into Nigeria and these include Herring, Horse Mackerel (Kote), Mackerel(Titus), Croaker, Sardines, Alaska Pollock, Blue whiting and some canned fish products are also imported.
Nigeria has been a major importer of fishery products given its ever increasing consumption and lack of sufficient internal sources. Fish Imported into the country is estimated to be 1 million tons yearly.
Smugglers are beginning to flood the markets with harmful frozen fish illegally brought into the country through land borders.
According to the government, the smugglers bring in all sorts of frozen fish such as tilapia, red pacus, river bream, pangassius, horse mackerel, sardine, and croaker through the country’s land borders.
The Nigerian government, ministry of agriculture and water resources should wake up to formulate policies to create the enabling environment for local fish production. Nigeria has not make use of 10% of its water resources.
Or else this will continue to be a mystery due to lack of vision by the government.
