Aquaculture, alternative source to attracting foreign investment, says expert


 Mr James Awomovi, the Manager, Fishful Thinking Consult, Victoria Island, Lagos, on Wednesday said that aquaculture had several potentials that could attract foreign investment and boost tourism in Nigeria if properly developed.
Awomovi told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that aquaculture had become one of the fastest growing food production sectors in the world.
He said that this entailed the cultivation of fishes in tanks, ponds or ocean enclosures mostly for consumption.
``If aquaculture can be developed and made more attractive, it has the potential to attract foreign investment into the country.

``More importantly, it is an essential element in the global solution to providing a sustainable seafood supply.
``In addition, it will help to satisfy the fish demand, improve natural stock population and growth, thereby increasing the number of exotic fish breeds in the country,” he said.
Awomovi said that aquaculture could also provide employment opportunities for several unemployed people.
According to him, through exportation of fishes, it will boost the country’s internally generated revenue (IGR).
He, however, listed breeding fishes in dirty ponds as the major challenge facing aquaculture, adding this could be easily solved by changing waters inside fish ponds regularly.
``Land-based fish farms must frequently change the dirty water of their tanks.
``Depending on the system’s set-up, this can result in the discharge of significant amounts of waste-water containing faeces, nutrients and chemicals into the environment,” he said.
Awomovi said that aquaculture had become a great revenue yielding means for China, Japan, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia.
He said the industry had greatly increased the Gross Domestic Product of the countries.

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