The Zootechnical Factors Affecting the Biosecurity Profile of Fish Farms in the Centre Region of Cameroon

Biosecurity Profile of Fish Farms in the Centre Region of Cameroon

https://doi.org/10.20473/jafh.v13i3.57091
Biosecurity practice, diseases, mortality fish, Cameroon

Authors

  • Georges Fonkwa
    fonkwageorges@gmail.com
    University of Douala, Cameroon https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1698-5268
  • Amidou KPOUMIE NSANGOU Laboratory of Aquaculture and Demography of Aquatic Resources, Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 7236 Douala-Cameroon, Cameroon
  • Judith Georgette Makombu Department of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources Management, Faculty of Agriculture and Veterinary Medicine, University of Buea, Cameroon, Cameroon
  • Franck Junior KAMETIEU DJAMOU Laboratory of Aquaculture and Demography of Aquatic Resources, Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 7236 Douala-Cameroon, Cameroon
  • Minette Tomedi Eyango Laboratory of Aquaculture and Demography of Aquatic Resources, Department of Aquaculture, Institute of Fisheries and Aquatic Sciences, University of Douala, P.O. Box 7236 Douala-Cameroon, Cameroon
  • Tchoumboue Applied Hydrobiology and Ichthyology Research Unit, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agronomy and Agricultural Science, University of Dschang, P.O. Box 222, Dschang-Cameroon, Cameroon
Vol. 13 No. 3 (2024): JAFH Vol. 13 No. 3 September 2024
Articles
September 4, 2024

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In order to optimize the fish production by a better knowledge of preventive measures against fish diseases, a cross-sectional audit was carried out in Cameroon from March to April 2022 on the zootechnical factors affecting the biosecurity practice in fish farms from the Centre Region (3°55'- 4°67'N; 9°46-11°52'E). A total of 50 farms were selected using the "snowball" method, face-to-face interview of fish farmers using a semi-structured questionnaire and direct observation. The most practiced farming system was the semi-intensive production system (74%), non-integrated fish farming (100%), grow-out (66%), monoculture (54%), and the soil system (34% of farms with ponds). The compliance rate (40.98%) and adoption rate (41.00%) of biosecurity measures (BM) was intermediate. The most adopted BM were "sanitary lock" and "no exchange of materials with other farms", while the least adopted were "veterinary intervention", "dead fish incinerated" and "special outfit for visitors". The BM were significantly more observed in intensive, nursery farms and those whose culture facilities were fastanks + concrete tanks with 3 to 12 production cycles per year. A strong, positive and significant linear relationship was established between the compliance rate (y) and BM such as the protection of farms from wild animals, quarantine of new fish, number of production cycles per year (x).  The linear regression model between y and x was y = 4.65x - 0.0417.  The capacity of fish farmers should be built on biosecurity practices.

  Key words: Biosecurity practice, diseases, mortality, fish, Cameroon