Perspective Chapter: Species Diversity and Distribution of Catfishes and Their Current Contribution to Global Food Security

Abstract

Ranking fifth in global aquaculture production of farmed fin fishes, with a total tonnage of 5, 518 878 metric tons worth US$ 10 569 972 Billion, Catfishes are exceptionally important as a seafood product. They are an especially important food resource in developing countries, more so since their farmed production does not require sophisticated technology. The diversity and natural distribution of catfishes are documented. Farmed production of Pangasianodon hypophthalmus in the Mekong delta and Ictalurus punctatus in China is reviewed as global success story in the culture of catfishes. Important lessons from these ventures are drawn for the culture of clariid catfishes, the dominant group farmed in Africa. Amongst this family, the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus (Burchell 1822) is the most widely cultured species, due to its hardy nature. However, its culture is constrained by insufficient seed supply, due to poor survival of fingerlings. These challenges are brought to the fore, so that future research efforts explore strategies of countenance, in order to increase food fish production, incomes, and livelihoods in Africa.