Fish farming in the existing water bodies: Techniques and species of interest in Benin

The present review shows that cages and pens, two aquaculture systems different in their conception and of several types, are the infrastructures used in several countries such as Côte d’Ivoire, Ghana, Niger, Nigeria and Benin for fish farming in the existing water bodies. Fish species including tilapias (Oreochromis niloticus, Sarotherodon melanotheron and Coptodon guineensis) and catfishes (Clarias gariepinus, Heterobranchus longifilis, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus and Chrysichthys walkeri) are reared there. In Benin, O. niloticus and C. gariepinus, whose biological and ecological characteristics for fish farming are well documented and mastered, are the two main species reared in farms exploiting cages and pens. Most fish production from cages and pens in Benin is from the Atlantic Department through Toho-Todougba Lake, in which numerous high-capacity private aquaculture farms and contribute to increase the contribution of fish aquaculture to the national fisheries production. The valorization of the other aquatic resources, such as the numerous water reservoirs available for cages and pens fish farming will therefore allow Benin to increase its capacity to feed the population. However, the disadvantages and impacts associated with these practices must be seriously monitored.
Keywords: Cages, pens, fish farming, existing inland waters