Vol.3 (12), pp. 223-231, December 2015 Available online at http://directresearchpublisher.org/journal/drjafs ISSN 2354-4147 ©2015 Direct Research Journals Publisher Review Aquaculture in Nigeria: Sustainability issues and challenges Adewumi, A. A. Department of Zoology, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Nigeria. E-mail: adejoke.adewumi@eksu.edu.ng Received 3 December 2015; Accepted 8 December, 2015 Nigeria is the most populous black nation in the world, with an estimated population of about 150 million people. Its citizens as at the end of 2012 have a projected fish demand of 2.66 million tonnes of fish. Fish supply within the same period was 132 million tonnes. This figure was made up of 0.7 million tonnes from importation and 0.62 million tonnes from both artisanal and aquaculture. Fish, a relatively cheaper source of food protein is very important in the diet of many Nigerians and is thus in high demand. The Nigerian fishery sector is characterized by a rich resource base, comprising of harvests from capture and culture. Due to over exploitation of the capture fisheries, the hope of the Nigerian fisheries is in aquaculturedevelopment. Productionfrom aquaculture is increasing and supplied between 5 – 22% of total domestic fish production between 2000 and 2007. For aquaculture to be sustainable, production systems must focus on the interactions between the culture techniques and the environment. It is pertinent to note that the growth and the expansion of aquaculture as an industry occurred during a period of growing concern of its environmental implications. Opportunities exist for the government to improve farm productivity through the promotion of appropriate responsible production, extension technologies and policy that is environmentally friendly. Key words: Eutrophication, clarias, tilapia, wastes, overfishing and tank. INTRODUCTION Aquaculture can be defined as the rational rearing of fish in an enclosed and fairly shallow body of water where all its life processes can be controlled. It is an important sector for the nation’s economic development, at a time when government is seeking for ways to diversify the economy, from being purely oil based. It is a potential means of contributing to the food security of the nation, directly by producing fish for food and indirectly by generating employment for the teaming unemployed populace, save foreign exchange and generate foreign exchange through export of fish and fish products. Aquaculture, according to Ayinla (2012), is the fastest growing food producing industry in the world. He stated that global aquaculture production has quadrupled over the past twenty years and that aquaculture production is likely to double in the next fifteen years, as a result of wild fisheries approaching their biological limits and the world demand for cultured fish continuing to increase. In Nigeria the annual fish demand as at 2012 is 2.66 million metric tonnes, with supply being only 1.32 million metric tonnes. Out of this figure, local production is 0.62 million metric tonnes while 0.7 million metric tonnes is from importation. Of the total fish supply, aquaculture accounts for only 200,000 metric tonnes. The current aquaculture production, is a far cry from its potential production of 2.5- 4.0 million metric tonnes.