ఫిషరీస్ & పశువుల ఉత్పత్తి

నైరూప్య

Cryopreservation: A Viable Tool for Sustainable Catfish Aquaculture Industry in Nigeria

Olanrewaju AN, Kareem OK and Orisasona O

Catfish aquaculture industry, a private-driven sub-sector with huge investment has today become a formidable economic venture in Nigeria. One major factor for this spectacular growth was the development of modern techniques for production of seed. However, the process of induced propagation of African catfish was still based on long standing technique of sacrificing male for fertilization with its attendant problems. Cryopreservation is now being explored globally to solve these challenges and promotes viable aquaculture production as obtained in livestock industry. But the level of adoption of this technology is relatively low in Nigeria hence the need for this awareness. A successful and sustainable cryopreservation method will require integrated practices for sample collection, refrigerated storage, freezing, thawing, rule for use and disposal, transfer agreements and database development. Some of these procedures have been standardized for catfish with room for improvement before commercial production commenced.