Title: Hatchery design and broodstock management policy as a tool for sustainable aquaculture: case of Cameroon

Aquaculture in Cameroon has seen little progress over the last ten years and has thus contributed very little to food security in the country despite the potential that exists. This report presents the work carried out to explore lasting solutions for fish production to fully contribute to food security in Cameroon. Information was gathered to determine the number of ponds and their total surface area. The African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) was used as a case study, to determine the amount of seeds needed by the existing farms at different stocking densities. The number of broodstock to produce the require seeds was determined. A model hatchery was designed and based on seed requirements, transport availability, and infrastructure and a repartition pattern was proposed.

The result shows that about 46 million fingerlings are needed for adequate stocking of ponds, and about 7 thousands brood fish are required to produce the fingerlings. To produce the required seed while ensuring good management, a design of a model hatchery that can produced approximately 2.6 million seed is proposed. To satisfy the demand, 27 hatcheries have to be built in proposed locations in the 8 regions of the country. Each hatchery will require an investment capital of about 128 million francs CFA. At 75 francs per fingerling a benefit/cost ratio of 219% can be obtained if the breeding programme is implemented successfully.