Management practices of aquaculture in Osun state: Implications for sustainable development

Abstract

This study identified some prevalent management practices of aquaculture in Osun State with a view to investigating if these practices are deemed environmentally responsible and if they are in accordance withsustainable fish farming practices, towards supporting food security in the study area and Nigeria as a whole.Data for the study was collected via the use of questionnaire and a total of 130 respondents were sampled.Management aspects investigated in this study included, sources of fingerling, species cultivated, stocking density, feeding habits, use of genetically modified resources, effluent discharge, social sustainability, marketing channel and economic profitability. Results reveal that most of the management practices investigated were, to a large extent, sustainable except for the management of untreated effluent discharge. It was recommended that government should develop and promote strategic plans that will ensure environmental protection from effluents discharge of aquaculture through the establishment of regulatory bodies to audit aquaculture practices.