Papers by John I Ukagwu, PhD (Tetfair Fellow)
The concept of the blue economy encapsulates the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic ... more The concept of the blue economy encapsulates the sustainable use of ocean resources for economic growth, improved livelihoods, and job creation, while preserving the health of ocean ecosystems. Nigeria, with its vast aquatic resources, stands to benefit immensely from the blue economy, particularly through its fisheries and aquaculture sectors. Despite the recognized potential of Nigeria's fisheries and aquaculture sectors, their contributions to the economy are below expectations. The country is yet to fully optimize its marine and inland water resources, resulting in continued dependence on fish imports to meet domestic consumption needs. This paper adopts a qualitative approach, drawing from a range of secondary data sources, including
This study evaluates the histopathology, hematology, and carcass quality of C. gariepinus postfin... more This study evaluates the histopathology, hematology, and carcass quality of C. gariepinus postfingerlings fed fresh and dried housefly maggots, addressing the increasing demand for quality, affordable feed in aquaculture.
The study was carried out to examine the profitability of aquacultural practice in Ikeduru Local ... more The study was carried out to examine the profitability of aquacultural practice in Ikeduru Local government area of Imo state and made use of both primary and secondary data. The main instrument for collecting the primary data was structured questionnaire. The population of the study was forty five registered fish farmers in Ikeduru L.G.A and a sample of twenty five fish farmers were drawn out from the population. A random sampling technique was employed. Data collected include socio economic characteristics (Age, sex, marital status, educational qualification and years of experience), total revenue, total variable cost, net income and total fixed cost. The data were analyzed using inferential statistics. The descriptive analysis showed that a large proportion of fish farm was age 31-50 years, 60% had formal education (secondary education), 80% are married, 60% male farmers, 40% with year of experience between 5-10 years and 34% trained formally in fish farming and financed their fish production through personal savings. Equally evident from the result is that the average net income of fish farmers was N155, 868 while the profitability index was 0.33, which implies that for every one naira invested in fish production by farmers, a return of N1.33 and a profit of N0.33 were obtained. The multiple regression result revealed that fish output was significantly determined by size, farming experience, educational attainment and training in fish farming. The coefficient of determination R 2 value of 0.6805 indicates that 68.05% of the variation in the value of fish output was explained by the socioeconomic characteristics listed. Multiple regression also revealed that fish output was significantly determined by feed, capital, labour and other variable costs. The coefficient of determination R 2 value of 0.7520 indicates that 72.50% of the variation in the value of fish output was explained by feed, capital, labor and other variable costs (fingerlings, medication, maintenance, etc). The study concluded that fish production in the study area is economically rewarding and profitable. It is capable of improving the standard of living of the people by creating employment and augmenting income. Therefore it is recommended that fish farmers there should be encouraged with grants, credits and subsidy from the government financial institutions so as to boost their startup capital.
The study was carried out to examine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on profitabil... more The study was carried out to examine the influence of socioeconomic characteristics on profitability of fish farmers in Owerri North LGA of Imo State. The study considered cost incurred and returns accrued on fish production in the area. Also, the relationship between the revenue derived from fish farming and various factors affecting fish production were determined. Standard procedures were adopted in all experimental analyses. One hundred and ten (110) fish farmers were randomly selected within the study area and used for the work, and data were collected using a well-structured questionnaire. Collected data were analysed using descriptive statistics such as percentages and inferential statistics (multiple regression at p<0.05) as well as cost and return analysis. Results showed that average annual income of a fish farmer was ₦6,269,886 while the profitability index was 1.89. Thus, indicating that, for every one-naira (₦1.00) investment made in fish farming in Owerri North LGA, ₦1.89 was returned to the farmer as net income. The study further showed that sex and years of farming experience were statistically significant and positively correlated (R 2 =0.8570; p<0.05) with net farm returns. On the other hand, age of the farmer, education attainment and marital status were negatively correlated and not significant. It is therefore recommended that people should engage in fish farming in the area as it is a profitable venture.
ex population structure of Macrobrachium felicinum and Macrobrachium vollenhovenii in the Akor river, Ibere Ikwuano, Abia State, 2016
Akor River Ibere was sampled for 24 months during September 2012-October 2014 using the Area dens... more Akor River Ibere was sampled for 24 months during September 2012-October 2014 using the Area density method. The river was delineated into three stations for sampling purposes namely Station A, B and C. Station A is located at Obuoro, Station B is located at Elemaga while Station C is located at Itunta where the prawns were all collected from. In the three stations, females predominated over the male with overall prawn species of 4,859 individuals out of which 3302 were females and 1551 were males giving a ratio of 1:2.07. A total number of 1,239 Macrobrachium felicinum were caught out of which 370 individuals were males and 869 individuals were females giving a ratio of 1:2 which was significantly different (p<0.05) from expected ratio of 1:1, 3,620 Macrobrachium vollenhovenii samples were caught in the three stations out of which 1,187 were males and 2,433 were females giving a ratio of 1:2 which showed no significant difference (p>0.05) though a ratio of 1:1 is expected. There were significant differences in number of shrimps caught between seasons (p<0.05). There were two peaks of abundance of male shrimps. The first peak was in July-Aug 2013, the highest numbers of females were obtained in September 2013, the peak of the rainy season whiles another peak occurred in July and September 2014. The presence of both sexes of Macrobrachium in Akor River suggests that there is possibility of prawn larval production for aquaculture practice.
The major constraints faced by aquaculturists operating within Anambra State, Nigeria were invest... more The major constraints faced by aquaculturists operating within Anambra State, Nigeria were investigated between the month of January, 2021 to December 2021 with a view of proffering solutions to them. A sample of 80 fish farmers were selected within the four agricultural zones of Anambra using Taro Yamani formula. Field observation, oral interviews, questionnaires and visits to farm sites were used to access the farmers. The result on socioeconomic characters of the farmers revealed that there were more male fish farmers (75.8%), average fish farmers age ranged from 41-50 years (34.7%), with majority of them being married (71.3%). They were also educated with primary education (48.8 %) and an average household number of 4-6 persons (60.0%). Overall mean for production constraints were (3.32), environmental constraints (3.17), socio-cultural (3.06) institutional constraints (3.40), infrastructural, financial, technological and marketing constraints were (3.72, 3.72, 3.51, and 3.32) respectively, and they all were above 2.5 likert scale indicating they were all major constraints. Infrastructural and financial constraints were identified as the most major constraints among all of them and ranked highest with mean range of 3.72 both among the other constraints. In conclusion, government of Anambra state is advised through the findings of this study to as a matter of urgency embark upon massive infrastructural development to stem the tide of rural-urban migration among the youths in the state as well as supporting these fish farmers with soft loans, grants, and other financial assistance in order to solve some of these identified constraints.
CONSTRAINTS FACED BY FISH FARMERS IN ANAMBRA STATE, NIGERIA, 2023
Study on the fish distribution, composition and abundance in Otamiri River was carried out betwee... more Study on the fish distribution, composition and abundance in Otamiri River was carried out between January and December, 2021. Three sampling points (Stations 1, 2 & 3) were selected along the stretch of the river and used for the study. Fish population was assessed using different fishing gears such as hooks and lines, gillnets, cast nets and traps while one-man dugout and planked canoes were the crafts used. Species diversity indices were estimated using standard procedure. Results revealed a total of 757 fish samples comprising of 15 species, 10 genera, 9 families and 4 orders. The family Cichlidae ranked the highest as the most abundant fish species having 363 samples, while Distichodontidae ranked the lowest with just 5 fish specimen. The highest species richness (15) was recorded between the months of January and March while the least value (11) was obtained between April and June. Simpson`s Index (D) value ranged from 0.02 between July and September and 0.005 between the months of January and March. Results of Simpson`s Reciprocal Index (1/D) showed that fish species caught between May and August were not as diverse as those obtained between September and December. This may indicate that some anthropogenic activities (agricultural/crop farms, construction sites, sewage discharges, timber harvesting, industrial discharge, mining and sand dredging) observed at the study sites tended to increase during raining season which subsequently led to the decrease in fish diversity. These activities could be said to have some deleterious effects on fish distribution, composition and abundance in Otamiri River. Thus management strategies should be put in place by relevant authorities to check human activities in the area.
ATER QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF NWAORIE RIVER FOR FISH SURVIVAL: A WET SEASON STUDY, 2014
The water quality characteristics of Nwaorie river for fish survival was investigated during the ... more The water quality characteristics of Nwaorie river for fish survival was investigated during the wet season. The physico-chemical parameters and the microbial characteristics were determined and examined. The study was carried out in three different sample sites. Sample A, sample B and sample C which the source of the river. Samples were collected in triplicates and were analysed for over one hundred variables. The findings from the physico-chemical parameters from the different sample sites Dissolved Oxygen, chloride, hardness, magnesium, calcium, phosphate, alkalinity, biological oxygen demand showed no significant difference (P>0.05) from the source and fell below the standard limit suitable for fish survival. pH, temperature, total dissolved solid were significant (P<0.05) and fell within the standard limit suitable for fish survival though at different ranges. The microbial organisms identified in the river include Escherichia coli, Bacillus spp, pseudomonas aeruginosa, others are klebiseilla spp, proteus spp, Salmonella spp, Citobacter and Shigella at different concentrations.
Physico-chemical studies of Akor River and distribution of prawn, Macrobrachium Vollehovenii and Macrobrachium fellicinum, 2017
The Physico-chemical factors of Akor River, has been analyzed to understand its relationship with... more The Physico-chemical factors of Akor River, has been analyzed to understand its relationship with the distribution of the palaemonids Macrobrachium vollenhovenii and Macrobrachium felicinum in the water body. Water samples were collected fortnightly from all the three stations between 8.30 and 11.30hr on sampling days and the physical and chemical parameters were determined with standard equipment. Although some of the ranges showed significant differences (p<0.05), they all fell within the normal range for freshwater prawn fish production. water temperature was between (24.75 to 29.0°C), water depth (2.31 to 5.7m), pH (6.28 to 7.65), dissolved oxygen (5.10 to 7.21mg/l), conductivity (33.53 to 69.05µs/cm, total alkalinity (22.25 to 43.42mg/l), nitrate-nitrogen (0.32-1.12mg/l), phosphate-phosphorus (0.05 to 1.16mg/l), total dissolved solids (9.70 to 33.33mg/l) and hardness (18.35 to 35.85mg/l). Analysis of variance was used to test the inter-station variables for water parameters while Spearman correlation coefficient was used to evaluate the relationship between the water quality and prawn abundance which revealed that some parameters positively and negatively correlated with prawn abundance (α=0.05). The study reveals that the water quality parameters fall within the normal range which provided favourable condition for the growth and survival of prawns. In view of its economic value, commercial cultivation of Macrobrachium vollenhovenii and Macrobrachium fellicinum can be implemented in the Ikwuano regions of Akor River and recommend that fish farmers and culturists should take advantage of the aquatic environment. 
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Papers by John I Ukagwu, PhD (Tetfair Fellow)