COASTAL SHELLFISH AS HARVESTABLE RESOURCES IN NIGERIA: A REVIEW

Abstract

The only important food source in Nigerian fish value chain that is still predominantly gathered from the wild rather than farmed is shellfish. Nigeria is a coastal state with an 853 km coastline and a plethora of harvestable shellfish species. Coastal shellfish is a general term encompassing edible marine and brackish water invertebrates that, for the most part, have an exoskeleton or "shell" to support their body structures (exceptions include octopuses, squid, and most sea cucumbers). They include various species of crustaceans, molluscs and echinoderms. Because most shellfish species use a broadcast spawning technique, recruitment is inconsistent and often unpredictable. As a result, they are extremely sensitive to overfishing or natural disasters that deplete the critical mass of their spawning stock. The review covered the description and importance of shellfish resources, harvestable shellfish species and sustainable exploitation in Nigerian coastal waters. Nigeria can take advantage of the many consumers outside the country in Europe, Asia, and America who yearn for many of the shellfish species plentiful in our waters via sustainable use of coastal shellfish resources