EXECUTIVE Assistant to Delta State governor on Micro Credit Programme (DMCP), Dr. Anthonia Ashiedu, has hailed the development of aquaculture in the state, saying it has become one of the major sources of livelihood to the people.

She made this known during the train the trainers’ course for Delta State Micro Credit Programme’s aquaculturists organised by the DMCP at the Crusaders’ Fish Farm, Ekpan.

According to her, this was “ in fulfillment of the state government’s promise to provide technical assistance to DCMP cluster groups, with the aim of giving them a cutting-edge in fish production.

The Executive Director/CEO, Nigerian Institute for Oceanography and Marine Research (NIOMR), Lagos, Dr. O.A Ayinla, in his lecture on Building Technical and Management Capacity in Aquaculture, stated that “the role of aquaculture in increasing protein consumption in the world depends on demand.”

Also speaking on the occasion, Mr. Yakubu Adams Femi of NIOMR,Sapele outstation, advised against the use of fertiliser nutrients containing toxic chemicals as they could reduce the quality and quantity of fish production.

Dr. Adekunle Oresegun of NIOMR, Lagos emphasised the need to supplement pond-raised fish with fish feeds as natural food is limited or almost absent.

His words: “The uninformed fish farmer will question why one has to supplement pond raised fish with fish feed. He will soon realise that for quick returns on his investment, supplementary feed for fish in the pond will yield increase production and productivity.”