Fishing farming is a profitable and very beneficial farming enterprise practised worldwide. Fish farmers raise many commercial fish types using different methods and systems suitable to them. The various systems and fish types adopted for fish farming differ for the various climatic zones.
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In this post, we try to present the commercial fish types that are suited and fish farmers in Africa raise.
1. Tilapia
Tilapia is a tropical fish and one of the popular fish farming in Africa. They are high in protein, large and have some incredible growth capabilities. Tilapia thrives well in water temperatures between 28oC and 30oC. The main challenge with tilapia management is that they reproduce rapidly. If you do not manage the situation well, it will increase competition among the fish and may lead to stunted growth. Tilapia prefer a cereal-based diet, to eating other fish.
2. Catfish
They are one of the more sustainable fish species for fish farming purposes. Catfish raised in inland tanks or channels are safe for the environment since their waste and disease are contained and not spread to the wild. They are mostly farmed in fresh ponds and are good for warmer climates. Catfish is popular for its health benefits and high market demand. The most prominent catfish species for farming are the blue catfish, flathead catfish and channel catfish.
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3. Salmon
Salmon is also a very popular fish species. The Atlantic salmon is commonly farmed. Chinook and Coho are the other varieties of the Pacific. They vaccinate the farmed salmon to prevent disease outbreaks. On rare occasions, they need additional medications. To prevent salmon from feeding on wild fish, salmon feed is made. This helps to conserve wild fish stocks.
4. Tuna
Tuna is also one of the commercial fish types very important in the commercial fish farming industry. The tuna fish are saltwater fish. The species of tuna include; yellowfin, albacore and bluefin. Tuna fish farming is complex. This is because the fish are big and very active. This makes simulating their natural environment very difficult. That is why most tuna humans consume are caught in the wild, and raised in a facility for them to gain weight. Tuna eats other fish and are typically raised in net pens offshore and in recirculation systems.
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5. Eel
Eels are carnivorous and catadromous fish ie they migrate from fresh water to the sea to breed. They spend 8 to 30 years in freshwater before they migrate. Eel farming is very popular in Asia, with China, Japan and Taiwan as the leading producers. You can do Eel farming in high-intensity recirculating tanks or intensive pond facilities.
The list of commercial fish types for fish farming in Africa is not exhaustive. We would like to know if there is a popular one we did not talk about. Please use the comment form.
Reference:
Fish Farms – (farms.com)
