Traditional Fish Hole Aquaculture System in Benin: Status, Challenges, and Research Prospects for Sustainable Development in Climate Change Mitigation

Abstract

Fish holes called “whédos” are excavations performed near water bodies or in the flood plains of Beninese rivers in Africa for rearing fish. During floods, they are filled and naturally colonized by various fish that remain trapped during recessions. This literature review examines fishing, aquaculture, and fish reared in traditional holes in Benin. It reports on cartography, characterization, socioeconomic aspects, challenges, and status of improvement, and proposes prospects for improving this system. Peer reviews and gray literature were used to conduct the analysis. Our review highlights 19 papers reporting on 17 whédos aquaculture experiences based on the exclusion or inclusion criteria. These results indicate that many genera can be reared in whédos, suggesting that whédos offer the possibility of going beyond the production of Clarias and Tilapia in Africa. Furthermore, the exploitation of the whédos system is fairly profitable for fishermen and their households, at approximately US$ 1713 per household annually, used to finance agricultural activities, children’s education, schooling, mitigating farmers’ vulnerability to climate risks, and health care. However, in the past two decades, there has been a significant decline in the quantity of fish collected owing to the adverse effects of hydroclimatic changes, such as floods and prolonged droughts. Moreover, water eutrophication or pollution, the risk of climate change, and fishing methods have affected crop yield over the years. The implementation of Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture or Integration Agriculture-Aquaculture in whédos systems can be an effective solution for improving profitability and sustainability. The knowledge gained from this review perspective should be helpful in directing future initiatives to grow and sustain this sector of the economy and to optimize its potential to provide food for future generations.