Preliminary Study on the Aspects of the Biology of Snakehead Fish Parachanna Obscura (Gunther) in a Nigerian Wetland (Report‪)‬

INTRODUCTION Fish is an important source of protein in terms of its nutritional value and affordability especially to the world's poorest people who rely on fish as their primary source of protein. However, the protein requirement of most African countries still grossly outweighs its supply. In Nigeria, less than 40% of the total protein requirement by the people is met, out of which fish constitutes about 41%. It is also reported that more than 60% of this source of protein (fish) is imported using foreign exchange, about 15% is caught by local fishermen and less than 15% comes from aquaculture [1]. Recent efforts by the authorities responsible for fisheries resources focus on increasing the cultivation of fish species in aquaculture to boost local production and save the country's hard earned and scarce foreign exchange.