Message from the Executive Director

I am pleased to welcome you to the website of the National Institute for Freshwater Fisheries Research (NIFFR), New Bussa, Niger State; the Institute of the Federal Republic of Nigeria charged with research

into the development of capture and culture fisheries in our country’s freshwater ecosystems and environment. The pursuit of this mandate has become very urgent and important in recent times for several reasons.

Secondly fisheries research and development holds immense potential for the attainment of the Millellium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs seek to address such critical issues affecting humanity as poverty, hunger, diseases, education, gender inequality and environmental sustainability within a very short period. These issues are most prominent among the rural poor; a major constituent of which is artisanal fishing communities.

The primary objective of fisheries development is to improve welfare and reduce poverty among fishers and others who depend on aquatic resources for sustenance. Understanding poverty in fishing communities and the means to address it requires a good understanding of social structures, social relations, and essential elements of governance as well as pattern of change.

In the past it was assumed that the best approach was to increase fish catches and to manage fish stocks to give maximum yield. Experience has however shown that larger catches alone do not necessarily reduce poverty. Alternative conceptualization and analysis of fisheries development and poverty have shown the importance of adopting multidisciplinary and holistic approaches.

Of recent a novel approach to addressing the problems of the fisherfolk – the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihood Approach (SFLP) has come on board. This approach requires that the livelihoods of the fisherfolk be thoroughly analyzed before interventions that will sustain them are designed.

The presidential committee on fisheries and aquaculture development in 2005 designed 34 programmes that cut across Artisanal Fisheries, Aquaculture, Industrial Fisheries, Fisheries Research and Manpower Development, Fisheries Policy and Institutions, Fishing Infrastructure, Cross-Cutting Issues and finally Implementation, Monitoring and Evaluation. These programmes are in line with the outcome of the NEPAD Fish for All Summit held in Abuja in 2005 i.e. "NEPAD Fisheries Action Plan and Abuja Declaration on Fisheries and Aquaculture" which seeks to achieve the Millennium Development Goals.

The Action Plan provided far reaching programmes for both capture and culture fisheries to follow. These include: Provision of modem fishing inputs and technology, Reduction in post-harvest losses, Culture-based inland fisheries development, Integration of fisheries into water resources management, Development of ornamental fish for export, Rehabilitation of floodplains and associated habitats, Development of infrastructural facilities to enhance local and export marketing  of fish and shellfish products, Establishment / support for fisheries micro credit programme, Large scale fingerling production to sustained production of farmed fish, Increased table fish production, Increased fish feed production, Aquaculture skills development and technology transfer to fishers and fisherfolk, Aquaculture insurance, credit and equipment leasing schemes to fish farmers, Development of Brackish water / Shellfish culture, Development of Coastal and Marine fisheries.

These challenges may look intimidating but NIFFR is well-placed to take them on. For instance the Sustainable Fisheries Livelihood Approach (SFLP) has been adopted as the standard for management of fisheries development and livelihood in rural fishing communities. This has been used to great success in such locations as Kainji, Gboko, Tatabu, Lake Chad and others. Lately the Institute has started reaching out much more widely by increasing its presence in the various agro-ecological zones. In addition to existing Zonal Stations/Outstations in the North East (Maiduguri) and North West (Tiga-Kano), a new one has come on board in the South East (Owerri) while others in the North Central (Lokoja), South West (Ibadan) and South South (Aganegbode) are in the offing.

The Institute is also expanding its facilities and manpower. The construction of a 15-ha demonstration/production fish farm has started in the headquarters in New Bussa which will serve immensely as training and extension ground. Further, a new modern laboratory is nearing completion in the headquarters. Along with this is a new Library complex and a modern Computer Center. On manpower, the Institute works with a total of 229 staffers constituted as 47 research and 171 non-research. Forty eight of these are currently in training; 19 of them in doctoral and 20 in master’s degree programmes. Six and Three are pursuing HND and ND certificates respectively.

With this introduction, I welcome you again to our website. The rest of our structure and activities are in here. I wish you a productive and satisfactory visit.

Dr. Aminu Raji
Execitive Director/CEO