The effect of fermented and unfermented Mucuna (Mucuna pruriens utilis) seed on growth performance of the Nile Tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus (L.) Trewavas, was investigated in eight weeks feeding trial in concrete tanks. Three approximately isonitrogenous diets were fed to three sets of fingerlings of Oreochromis niloticus. Specific growth rate (SGR), average weight gain, (AWG), percentage weight gain (FWG), food conversion ratio (FCR) and protein efficiency ratio (PER) were not significantly different (P>0.05) from the control. However, crude protein, ash and nitrogen free extract of the carcass composition were significantly different (P>0.05). Fish weight ranged from L75+0.14 -5.60+089, 2.13±0.43 -5.67+1.46 and 1.45±0.12 -4.87±0.64 for Dl, D2 and D3 respectively. The average weight gains were 3.85g, 3.54g and 3.42g for Dl, D2 and D3 respectively. Average apparent food consumed is in the order D2 >D1 > D3. Fermented Mucuna seed diet (D2) has the highest food conversion ratio of 1.51 followed by the control diet 1.22 and 1.19 for D3. Diet 3 is the most cost effective of the three diets. D3 has the highest food efficiency (0.84) followed by Dl (0.82) and the least D2 (0.66). Results of this study appear to show that unfermented Mucuna diet can conveniently replace Soya bean based diet for feeding Oreochromis niloticus.
This study documents the socio-economic baselines in selected oil-impacted communities prior to the commencement of the Ogoni clean-up and restoration project. Adopting mixed approach consisting of semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs), key informant interviews (KIIs), and household surveys, we surveyed the pre-remediation socio-economic conditions in the Ogoniland communities between July 2018 to March 2019. Results indicated that almost all respondents (99.6%) agreed that the smell of petroleum products or crude oil was evident in the air they breathed even as there were visible black particles (soot) in the respondents’ nostrils, on their clothes and in water. The respondents described the ambient air as smoky, and choked with an offensive smell. The household waters were smelly, brownish, or oily, and most respondents (76%) cannot afford to treat their water. Forty-two percent of the respondents who relied on fishing and farming for a living sought for alternative means of subsistence and acknowledged that oil pollution caused stunted growth and low crop yield. The majority of respondents (91%) reported falling fish catches, while the fish caught smell and taste of oil, lowering their market value and posing a potential health risk to consumers. It is evident that oil pollution has impacted the socio-ecological values and sustainable livelihood in Ogoniland. This study provides a framework for monitoring post-remediation socio-economic improvements in Ogoniland. It also highlights areas of urgent intervention to improve livelihood, and access to basic amenities (e.g., potable drinking water), waste management infrastructure, and statutory policy changes for sustainable development in Ogoniland.
Access to information and appropriate fishing gear is fundamental to the protection and conservation of the fisheries resources to guarantee sustainable livelihood of the fishers. Social networks in eight fishing settlements of Rivers State were purposively selected to assess the role of networks on access and use of information and gear among the shrimp fishers. The cross-sectional study used mixed methods to elicit data. Data obtained were subjected to content analysis and MAXQDA 2018 software to generate project maps showing information and fishing gear accessed and used. Results show that 24.8% (31) of respondents joined social network due to information sharing behavior of network members. Information was shared through one-on-one interactions, group meetings, fish buyers and phone calls. Out of the 96.8% (121) of respondents belonging to shrimp fishers' network, 23.2% attended meetings for at least four times a month while 22.4% attended meetings for more than four times a month. Information shared bordered on price of shrimps, weather and tide, fishing grounds and traps, water level, timing of fishing and processing techniques. Respondents revealed that information shared in their networks was correct, adequate and timely. Fishing gear accessed and used proficiently was dragnet, cast net and beach seine. In all, the evidence from the interview responses suggests that networks play a key role in shrimp fishers' access and use of information and fishing gear. Fishers are therefore, encouraged to be in one network or the other.
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