African Catfish Aquaculture in Malaysia and Nigeria: Status, Trends and Prospects

Global aquaculture production continue growing in order to meet up with ever increasing fish demand, especially as fish from capture has levelled off and makes an increase in aquaculture production as the only hope to meet the demand for fish. Aquaculture industry involves culture of many fish species of either fresh or brackish water origin and among the important freshwater fish species is North African catfish which is also called African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Its production is increasing as the total aquaculture production also increases and its culture is spread globally, with Nigeria officially reported as producing the highest annual amount of the fish. There is a substantial culture of the fish in Malaysia, though not a native fish species but its presence in Malaysia is getting closer to over three decades and for almost a decade now, it has been the highest finfish produced in either fresh or brackish water aquaculture in Malaysia. This review discussed African catfish aquaculture in Malaysia and Nigeria, compared the production and prospects of the industry in the two countries.