Assessment of Awareness and Constraints of Aquaculture Biosecurity among Fish Farmers in Awka North and South, Local Government Areas of Anambra State

Introduction

Aquaculture is one of the fastest growing food production sector in the world. Aquaculture, the farming of aquatic organisms, has become a vital component of global food production. Production from aquaculture has grown at an impressive annual rate of approximately 11% since 1980 [1]. One of the significant challenges to the expansion of aquaculture production is from disease outbreaks. Diseases caused by viral infection are not easily treated under current technology and have caused significant economic losses.

Potential economic losses from disease outbreaks are significant, and can affect the survival of the industry Lightner DV [2]. Aquaculture in Awka, Anambra State, like in many parts of Nigeria, is a significant source of livelihood, contributing to food security, income generation, and employment. Its development is very important especially when we take into account all the health benefits of fish in a human’s diet. One of the significant challenges to the expansion of aquaculture production is from disease outbreaks. Fish is a reasonably priced and important resource of animal protein which contains vitamins, minerals and oils with low levels of cholesterol [3].

Biosecurity is a set of standard scientific measures adopted to exclude pathogens from culture environments and hosts and, more broadly, limit the establishment and spread of pathogens. Biosecurity measures are essential for maintaining healthy farms Horrillo A, et al. [4]. Therefore, it is important to promote farmers’ adoption of biosecurity measures to sustainable fish farming. Biosecurity awareness refers to a subject’s understanding of specific information, government policies, and safety values; this aspect has an important impact on the overall prevention and control of fish diseases Breen R, et al. [5]. Farmers’ biosecurity awareness reflects whether they understand the methods for maintaining the biosecurity situation of the farm and whether they have a sense of responsibility for this action. The expansion of farmers’ awareness of biosecurity may help guide the emergence of biosecurity behaviors among fish farmers.

A sound biosecurity program for a fish farmer’s aquaculture facility is intended to incorporate disease prevention, disease monitoring, cleaning and disinfection between production cycles and general security precautions Smith AS [6]. Good biosecurity also includes reducing stressful conditions that can make fish more susceptible to disease; this involves the practices, habits, procedures and policies used to prevent the introduction and spread of disease causing organisms as well as invasive species. However, the sector faces numerous challenges, including disease outbreaks and inadequate biosecurity measures, which can severely impact productivity and sustainability. Biosecurity in aquaculture encompasses practices aimed at preventing the introduction and spread of infectious diseases in aquatic animal populations [7].

Given the growing importance of aquaculture in Anambra State, Understanding the awareness and constraints related to biosecurity among fish farmers is crucial. The development of biosecurity measures on fish ponds and the transfer of technologies improves the health of fish, which is very important from the point of view of the safety of the final product and consequently the preservation of the health of the population. Increased fish production is needed to boost food security for the ever increasing human population, coupled with declines in catch from the wild Anyanwu PE, et al. [8, 9]. All hands must be on deck to ensure that the introduction or spreading of diseases and diseases causing agents are reduced to the barest minimum in the aquaculture sub sector towards adoption of biosecurity measures at all levels to improve fish production and ensure food availability Boyd, et al. [10]. The research aims to provide insights that could inform the development of targeted interventions, policies, and support mechanisms to enhance biosecurity practices, mitigate disease risks, and promote the sustainable development of aquaculture in Awka, Anambra State. The aim of this study is to examine the level of awareness and constraints of biosecurity measures among fish farmers in Awka, Anambra State.

Discussion

The results of the socio-economic characteristics of the fish farmers in the study area which has been presented in , this results revealed that the they were dominated by males, and this could be associated with the growing demands of families on men, forcing their search for additional sources of income to meet domestic demands. These findings are like the reports of Omitoyin SA, et al. [11] and Ngueguim, et al. [12]. Moreover, Nwabueze AA, et al. [13] and Ali S, et al. [14] stated that males are predominantly involved in fish farming. Most of the fish farmers were between 36 and 45 years of age.

The average age of fish farmers was 45 years, and the oldest above 60 years with 27.5%. It confirms the findings of Awotide BA, et al. [15]which reported that a large number of fisherfolk were educated, and this portends a better future for fish farm production. The respondents were found to be within the productive and economic active age.

According to Ngeywo J, et al. [16] age is a key factor in productivity and profitability performance of the farmer. It was observed that many of the fish farmers are still in their productive ages which is in agreement with the work of Apata OM, et al. [17], Hasimunal OJ, et al. [18]. Younger people tend to be more energetic, adjust faster, and adopt new technologies, thus may be more productive than the elderly who may be more conservative. Pandey DK, et al. [19] reported that more participation of young and middle age groups of peoples in fish production in Tripuna. The work of Kumar P, et al. [20] showed a shifting pattern from old age to young age which means that aquaculture is drawing the attention of the younger age bracket. 58.30% of the respondents had between 11 and 15 years of experience on the farm. This number of years of experience on the farm is beneficial for fish farming in the area of study, As a result, the respondents with highest number of years of experience were adult/elderly married men had good skill (technical know-how) and better approaches to fish farming business and poorer biosecurity scores than younger farmers. Since farmers with less number of years of experience may be discouraged when they encounter many risks in the early days of the fish farming business [21].

Furthermore, the involvement of most of the respondents in monoculture is similar to the work of Omobepade, et al. [22], Okpeke MY, et al. [23] who observed the same trend. Hasan MM, et al. [24] attested to higher profitability of catfish_(C. gariepinus) production over other types of fish and also this finding is in line to Olatunji SO, et al. [25] who recorded more farms with _Clarias spp than Tilapia spp. The fish farmers’ awareness of fish diseases will enable them to identify when there is risk on their farm and steps to take to minimize it. The low (13.30%) levels of awareness of biosecurity components suggest that farmers were negligent of biosecurity practices and did not apply appropriate biosecurity measures agrees with previous reports that associated poor biosecurity scores to ignorance of farmers (due to lacked training) and inadequate or lack of application (if they knew) of the appropriate measures against disease transmission and occurrence in their farms . Lack of knowledge and understanding, lack of communication, time, audit programs of biosecurity, potential risks and economic constraint have also been recorded as reasons for low biosecurity compliance levels by farmers. The low biosecurity scores in the present study may suggest implementation of few biosecurity measures due to lack of proper knowledge of the importance of biosecurity in a farm. Similarly, little or no practice of biosecurity measures and low biosecurity compliance rates of fish farming have been reported in Ivory Coast, Nigeria, Kenya and intermediate or moderate to high biosecurity practices and compliance levels in other parts of the world Craig SH, et al. [26]. Overall, the respondents’ awareness of biosecurity was high (86.70%) but their knowledge, understanding and attitude towards Biosecurity measures and practices were evidently limited.

Conclusion and Recommendations

In view of the great importance attached to the Practice of biosecurity in reducing fish loss and improving fish production, this study presented information on the farmers’ Awareness and the constraints they face in their effort towards adopting biosecurity practices Despite the fact that most farmers did not have a thorough understanding of biosecurity protocols, they took some biosecurity precautions to avoid disease introduction and spread on their farms. This suggests that more disease causing pathogens are being identified and in some cases spreading to new locations. It is therefore evident that the risk of diseases in aquaculture production settings cannot be eliminated completely. It is also important to be arrive to the fact that biosecurity measures for an aquaculture production system will depend on a number of factors, including the type of facility, the purpose of the facility (e.g., stocking food fish), as well as the species and life stages reared.