As part of its nationwide effort to assess aquaculture practices, the AIT-African Aquaculture Project has initiated a mini-farm survey focused on catfish culture systems in Nigeria. This initiative, rolled out in April 2025, seeks to capture key operational and socioeconomic data from actors involved in catfish farming—ranging from hatcheries to grow-out farms.

The survey delves into the following components:

• Culture types and system layouts: Including culture system types – pond, concrete tank, tarpaulins and plastic tanks with data system dimensions, and nursery/grow-out space allocations.
• Species-specific data: Including stocking densities, strains, sources, and average stocking sizes.
• Growth and production metrics: Yield per harvest, survival rates, and pricing.
• Water and pond management: Covering water sources, use of reservoirs, water treatment, aeration techniques, and sediment management.
• Feeding practices: Feed types, feeding frequency, and ration calculation based on growth stages.
• Disease management and biosecurity: Protocols for fish health inspection, disease outbreaks, and preventative measures like water screening and vaccination.
• Marketing and buyer preferences: Information on live vs. dead fish sales, methods of transport, packing, and preferred fish traits by buyers including weight, size, and body conformation.

The insights from this mini survey will help to identify prevailing production challenges and technological gaps within the catfish farming sector. The outcomes will also inform policy recommendations, and the development of best practices tailored to the Nigerian context, contributing to more sustainable and profitable catfish aquaculture systems.

Stay tuned to www.asianaquaculture.org for updates on catfish research as part of this project.