Advances in African Catfish (Clarias Gariepinus) Seed-Production Techniques in Kenya

Abstract

African catfish is one of the aquaculture species in Kenya and a potential source of cheap protein for human nutrition. However, the major hindrance in the culture of catfish is seed production. The high-mortality rate of fry and fingerlings experienced by hatchery operators has limited the access and availability of catfish seeds. This had resulted in low-annual average production of farmed catfish. To address these challenges, different methods have been employed to enhance its seed production. One of such methods is induced spawning followed by larval rearing by the use of live feed like Artemia, thereafter, fry rearing with dry formulated feed, sorting by size, and stocking in nursery ponds. This chapter, therefore, will review the different mechanisms that had been adopted to enhance the seed production of catfish thus boosting its production in Kenya.