MARKET SURVEY

REPORT BY AUGUSTINE JOSHUA DITORUDONKUMO

21/06/2018

Introduction

Fish and aquatic studies is one of the important field of disciplines in the agricultural sector.
Today in Nigeria fish farming has contributed about 7% to our GDP and has created more
business which has aided the local farmers in being self-employed. The importance of fish
farming cannot be over emphasized due to high economical and health benefits of fish, which
is a major source of protein. Industries like the fast food mules and our restaurants use fish for
their day to day business. Also aquariums are made for the sake of tourism and beautification.
The survey on this report carried out at the Swali Market gives us the details on how the fish
market operates.

Fish is and aquatic organism that spends its complete life in water bodies, they range from the
rivers fish to the sea fish sometimes referred as salt water fish. They have their specific names
and scientific name i.e cat fish is called Synodontis Claris, Gymnacus Niloticus etc.

This report also provides us how this fishes are being sold, processed, stored and mode of
harvesting. Fish farming is less capital intensive on a smaller scale. With a minimum of #10,000
you can venture into it by buying and retailing to the final consumers but owning a fish farm
could be quite expensive and generates more income to just buying and selling as a fish
marketer. The Nigeria Government today has contributed greatly to this sector. Using Bayelsa
state as a case study. The Governor initiated a programed called one man one pond program
in a way of cubing unemployment in the state. Today in Bayelsa almost all indigenous farmers
have a fish pond, either for commercial or subsistent purposes. The Niger Delta University in
partner with the state government created research farms, where this fishes can be mass
produced, breed and for studies. Swali market is a major distributing channel of this
commodity
Market Location
The market is located latitude 4o 55l 0ll N and longitude 6o 16l 60ll E at Swali in Yenagoa Local Government Area, Bayelsa
State.

Area diagram

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Activities Fig 1
From the survey carried out the following finding were made;
S/N Common name Scientific name Native Price Location Habitation
name (#)
1 Red Snapper Late Niloticus Agbara 4,000 Akassa Salt water
2pounds w.
2 Shark fish Gymnacus-niloticus Aba 10,000 Gbarain Fresh water
3pounds w.
3 Mullet Pseudonoyxus-gapensis Itoko 100 Akassa Salt water
0.2pds w.
4 Moon fish Githarinus- githarus Ofor 5,00 Kolama Salt water
0.4pds w.
5 Snake head Parachanna-obscura Iyoro 1,000 Gbarain Lake
0.6pds w.
6 Cat fish Claris-garipinus Imunu 2,000 Gbarain Fresh water
1pds w.
7 Lady fish Pora 8,000 Akassa Salt water
4pds w.
8 Pike Esox-lucius Brook 4,000 Akassa Salt water
manage 3pds w.
9 Cat fish Charysichthys- Nguli 5,000 Gbarain Fresh water
nigrodigitatus 4pds w.
10 Cat fish Synodontis-claris Ikpoki 2,000 Odi Fresh water
1.5pds w.
11 White snapper Late niloticus Ikirica 3,000 Kaiama Fresh water
2pds w.
12 Bonny tongues or Heterotis-niloticus Ekeu 2,500 Swali Fresh water
slap water 1.3pds w.
13 Cat fish Heterobrancus-longifilish Toriye 3,000 Gbarain Fresh water
1.5pds w.
14 Hamer head fish 500 Akassa Salt water
0.5pds w.
15 Tilapia Orochromis-niloticus Iton 4,000 Swali Fresh water
3pds w.
Recommendation
Work ways should be provided by the government to enable sellers and buyers to have free
access to the market and the sanity of the market was very bad. I suggest the sanitation
department of the ministry of environment should put a proper major to the disposals of
waste in the market and monitoring marketers on the positioning of their stocks.
The distance where some of these fishes are being transported from is very far, therefore
causing spoilage and reduces sails like the salt water fishes which is not good for the health. A
proper transportation network should be applied by the use of speed boats, roads and before
the supply a preservative should be applied, like drying or smoking and icing before bringing
them. Another issue is the security. The sea pirates have been a serious threat to the markers,
therefore I recommend that the government should provide more security aids to the water
ways to enable the safe transportation of stocks to the markets, that will automatically cut
down prices that the common man can also afford, most especially the salt water fish.

Conclusion
The survey was a huge success. The only challenge we had was how to communicate properly
with the marketers because most of them couldn’t speak English eloquently. And some local
names of the fishes also where not provided, there were no specific prices but fully on
negotiation with the consumers. The market is quite big but very congested. Fish farming is
one of the best means of revenue generation which can outrun crude when giving more
attention.

Summary
The fisheries and aquatic discipline has made so much improvement to the general marketing
strategies and production of fishes. Ponds are very useful storage facilities when it comes to
the rearing of fish. They range from natural to artificial. The Swali market is a good place
where you can get most of the fishes, it is located in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State. The categories of
fish found are from salt water to fresh water, e.g; mullet, pike, red snapper (salt water). Cat
fish, bonny tongue, white snapper (fresh water).

Appendix.
Fish marketing
Fish pond
Survey
Fish preservation
REPORT ON SWALI MARKET SURVEY

FACLUTY OF AGRICULTURE
FISHERY AND AQUATIC STUDIES
UG/14/0143
SIWES
COURSE COD: FAS421

SUPERVISED BY PROF. ADEYEMO

NIGER DELTA UNIVERSITY

WILBERFORCE ISLAND
NIGERIA