WATER RECIRCULATORY SYSTEM TECHNOLOGY BEING A MAJOR TOOL FOR INCREASED SEA FOOD PRODUCTION

In recent times the country has witnessed the unprecedented interests by entrepreneurs within fish farming. This is largely due to the scarcity of fish in the local markets beyond just the huge export potentials of our own local tin and shellfish types in international markets. The use of high technology in catfish farming would be the latest in Aquaculture culture system containing attracted numerous investors due to its tremendous success in areas that initiated the system nowadays.

First introduced in Nigeria within 1978/79 by Nigerian Farms Ltd. within Patani. Delta State by German Entrepreneurs and local partner, its success was very limited regarding fingerling and table sized sea food production of Tilapia spp. Catfish and Common Carp because of poor management skill after leaving of German Experts. Others followed as from 1 996 elizabeth. g. Clii thrms Nigeria Constrained Lagos, Zartech (Ibadan), Durante (Ibadan), Ocean Fisheries Nigeria Limited etc. Nigeria needs approximately 1. 5 million tonnes annually to fulfill fish demand, whereas domestic source is estimated at about 0. 5 tonnes as well as massive importation of frozen sea food, which gulps over N20 billion annually. Nigeria is the largest importer of frozen fish in the whole world.

Furthermore, the major source of sea food supply in Nigeria (capture fisheries) arc presently about the decline arising from an more than exploitation. Similarly, Livestock production another major contributor to protein foods is usually constrained by
desert encroachment. rinderpest attack while others. This has placed fish culture about the spotlight as the viable option for food security and sea food production increase, which has to become large-scale to impact.

Unfortunately even so, aquaculture in Nigeria contributes just 25, 000 30, 000 tonnes yearly despite its potential estimated from over half a million tonnes. Now there are concerted efforts to develop intensive aquaculture production to improve fish production. Consequently research seemed to be initiated on intensive catfish manufacturing
using water recirculation system. Water Recirculation System (WRS) might be adapted to all the ecological zones of Nigeria and it is especially recommended for areas where pond culture isn't so feasible due tp low rainfall, high water evaporation charges, loose soil types and bad water retention characteristics.

With WRS, it's possible to produce fish all the all year round. It is a type of cultivation system by which effluents or used water coming from fish rearing
units is partially or completely recirculated for them aftcr water treatment and reconditioning. This method rears fish at high densities with cut in water usage. This is achieved using a water treatment unit, consisting of mechanical filtration, biological filtration stable waste removal, water sterilization as well as aeration. WRS conserve both water as well as land and maximize production in the relatively small area of territory, use a relatively small number of water for example 50 tonnes of fish can he stated in 60m3 building annually. This is not like outdoor earth ponds.

The WRS system is quite effective in the control of poaching prevalent in Nigerian
agricultural investment profiles. Water Recireulation System may be outdoor systems offer better ecological control.