The National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research in over forty years of existence has carried out several research work on freshwater and Inland waterbodies with major landmarks being made in areas highlighted below:

Fish breeding for cottage and rural farmers

Classification of culturable fish in terms of feeding habit:

There two major groups in Nigeria.

*  Herbivore -  These are plant eaters which require 25 – 41% crude protein

Tilapia, Heterotis, carp).

*  Carnivore-omnivore:  These are both plant and flesh eaters which require 30 – 55% crude proteins (e.g Catfish). This assists in the combination of feedstuffs.

Some activities aimed at combating food shortages and ensuring food security are as follows:

A.  All-male tilapia production

Early maturation and prolific breeding in tropical and sub-tropical climatic conditions with its consequences remains a major challenge in farming tilapia. Monosex culture techniques inhibit the prolific reproduction in tilapia and ensure utilization of reproductive energy for improved somatic growth performance.  

B.  Catfish fingerlings production & brood stock management

A breeding method used in combining positive or desirable traits in one species with another producing superior quality than any of the parental.  The technology has improved fingerlings quality and availability as well as farmers income.

Development of apparatus for mass production of fry

To sustain regular production of tilapia hatchlings for sex reversal, a new and simple method for regular embryo collection was developed. It involves pairing of male and female brood stocks in hapas and collection of hatchlings and fry.

 Pond Culture for cottage and rural farmers

 NIFFR as the National Centre of Specialization Aquaculture (NCoS) has the technology for the construction of different types of ponds be it earthen or Concrete

 Tilapia and catfish breeding technology for cottage and rural fish farmers

 Below are some aspects of the technology for the production of both Tilapia and catfish

Development of apparatus for mass production of fry for sex reversal: One of the methods/technologies developed for the sustenance and regular production and supply of tilapia hatchlings is that of sex reversal. This is a new simple method for regular embryo collection.

Another technology developed for the production of fast growing tilapia is the all- male tilapia production method.

 All Male Tilapia Production: -

This involves three methods viz:

·         Production of all-male Oreochromis niloticus population using hormone.

All male Oreochromis niloticus is produced by feeding fresh hatchlings.

·         Production of all-male Oreochromis niloticus

·         Production of all-male Oreochromis niloticus population using manual sexing.

Fish hybridization

Hybridization is a method employed to combine desirable characteristics

from two different species or populations with a view to improving the genetic quality of the offsprings or hybrid as compared with those of parental stock.

 Fish Feed Production for cottage and rural farmers

The knowledge of fish nutrition is essential to fish farmers as feed takes 60 -70% in the cost of fish production. Knowing the nutrients needed by the fish and how to manage them is essential for the optimum performance and achievement of profit oriented goals of fish farmers. Locally source feed ingredients have been confirmed for fish feed production.Potentials of freshwater sardines (Clupieds) in fish farming and capture fisheries in Nigeria: the established the importance of freshwater sardines  as good replacement for imported fish meal and reduce the foreign exchange spending in fisheries sub-sector.

 Classification of culturable fish in terms of feeding habit:

There two major groups in Nigeria.

*  Herbivore -  These are plant eaters which require 25 – 41% crude protein

Tilapia, Heterotis, carp).

*  Carnivorous-omnivore:  These are both plant and flesh eaters which require 30 – 55% crude proteins (e.g Catfish). This assists in the combination of feedstuffs.

Fish Processing and Postharvest Technology for cottage and rural fish farmers.

 Fish processing is one of the economic activities in aquaculture value chain that provides livelihood for men, youth and women in processing, packaging, input supplies and transportation which indirectly triggers the production of fingerlings, table size fish and feed for fish. Fish not consumed or sold fresh is processed using different methods to avoid spoilage, prolong the shelf life and add value to the fish product. The traditional oven is the type of smoking kiln being used by most of the fish processors in Nigeria and are faced with a number of challenges including:

ü  Lack of modern processing facilities that will increase the quality and acceptability of the smoked fish. 

ü Smoking of fish is usually done based on the request made by customer and market demand.

But today the Institute has generated a lot of technologies in all the mandate areas to mention few as highlighted below:

·         Development of NIFFR improved double chamber smoking kiln

·         Design and development of a large scale and standardized fish dryer for improved dried fish products

·         Development of an extruder for the extraction of oil from fish based stock

·         Development of low cost multi-parameter sensors for monitoring water quality in ponds and lakes.

·         Development and vacuum packaging of fish value added products

  Fish production from ponds is a factor of the amount and quality of fish food available, therefore the concern of any fish farmer would be ho to ensure abundant production of these natural foods to meet the demands of the fish for maximum growth and production. some of the research projects conducted to combat food shortages and ensure food security are as follows:

 i.         Production of Organic Compost from Water Hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes [Mart.] Solms). The organic fertilizer produced can be used by farmers around the lake and its environs to boost agricultural productivity. It has been carried out in the following States in Lagos, Niger and Kwara.

 ii. Control and utilization of nuisance aquatic weeds in Asa lake kwara state Nigeria. It is an integrated approach of aquatic weed management through ecological, biological and control by utilization to get rid of all aquatic weed manace on the lake so as to benefit irrigation, fisheries and aquaculture activities which plays a large role in ensuring food security in the state.

Other Fisheries technologies generated since inception

 The following fisheries technologies highlighted below have contributed to sustainable development in the sector. Also, equip the stakeholders with good management practices.

 Training and Empowerment