Foreign Firms To Establish Fish Feed Factories In Nigeria

Two foreign-owned fish feed firms will soon set up factories in Nigeria, the Fisheries Society of Nigeria (FISON) has said.

Dr. Abba Abdullah, President of FISON, told newsmen in Lagos that the factories would mitigate challenges of aquaculture production in Nigeria.

He said that one of the companies was the largest fish feed producer in USA while the other company, from Paraguay, would soon be in Nigeria to seek for partners.

“With this new development, it is hopeful that the cost of feeds will reduce and there will be qualitative feeds available for fishes in the country,” Abdullah said.

Abdullah said that the association would be collaborating with the Auburn University in Alabama in the US to train its members.

He said that the collaboration would involve the training of 10 members of the association up to masters and PhD levels in aquaculture.

According to him, Auburn University already has such relationship with countries like China, Mexico, the Philippines, Uganda, Ghana and Brazil.

“After a two-day consultation, the university signed an agreement to this effect with FISON when a delegation of FISON attended the Boston Sea Food Show in Massachusetts between March 20 and 22,” Abdullah said.

The FISON chief disclosed that the collaboration would specifically include exchange programmes, including certification of aquaculture professionals.

Abdullah said that others would include development of extension programming and other activities deemed to be mutually appropriate and beneficial.

He said that certification of aquaculture professionals was strategic to the development of fisheries in Nigeria.

“This certification enables a beneficiary to be a certified who can practice anywhere in the world.

“Nigeria should not be left out with our pool of professionals yearning to be recognised internationally. Our opportunity is now,” Abdullah said.

He said that Nigeria had many biologists, zoologists, veterinarians, among others, who could be assisted to become aquaculture specialists and enhance fish production.