Fishery

Fishery is today developing into a huge industry in Nigeria. So many people are getting involved in this art and business as a source of livelihood. The development of cold storage system has enhance fishery especially in coastal regions of the country.

Even in the hinterland, many wealthy Nigerians make money through artificial inland body of water where fish are bred in commercial quantities. The breeding of fish in period is steadily assuming great importance as people find out that their needs cannot be met from the sea alone. The stock of fish in the pond usually fast breeding and quick growing species. They feed on organisms known as planktons and spawning takes place under favourable conditions.

The method of fish harvesting has gone beyond use of mere line and hook. A line is long, strong and flexible or strong thread with hook attached to it. A baited hook with a worm or small piece of fish is an old method of fish catching. The methods of fish catching have now become sophisticated, fishing gears like gill-net and other net are used for fishing. A gill-net is a type of net suspended vertically in water held up at the top by floats and weighted at the bottom by sinker. When fish swim about in the water naturally, they swim into the net; their heads going between the mesh. The fish won’t be able to withdraw its head because the gill-covers have become entangled. Cast netting is another method of catching fish. It is the method in which the fish fisher man casts his net into water surface. It lands in circular form and sinks trapping any fish that within reach. There is always a great catch in most cases. The use of trawlers attached to a ship is the most important method of fishing. The echo sounds in the ship for locating shoals of fish in the sea. A shoal of fish is a very large number of fish swimming together. Even live bait may be thrown into water to attract the fish before the net are set to catch and haul fish to the surface. Then the net is set with anchors.

            Fish preservation is another important aspect of fishing industry. One way of making sure fish doesn’t spoil is by having them frozen. Frozen fish landed by trawlers have to be transported in special refrigerators while storage facilities like cold rooms must be made available to boost fish farming.

            Following recent exploits in this area it has become glaring that we cant afford to reply on imported fish but with renewed commitment, can establish fish ponds, grow fish and enjoy great benefits.