Small-scale Aquaculture Research Articles

English

The current and anticipated demographic changes worldwide are expected to increase fish and other animal protein consumption. Capture fisheries alone cannot meet these requirements. Aquaculture offers a way out if it can further be developed. However, in most developing countries, aquaculture is still in its infancy and the evidence on the industry is quite thin. We assess the profitability of small-scale aquaculture production in Zambia using primary data collected through a structured questionnaire that was supplemented with focus group discussions with individual fish farmers. The analysis combined descriptive statistics, enterprise budgets, and financial analysis tools. The profitability of the aquaculture venture was determined using the indicators of investment returns including, net present value (NPV), internal rate of return (IRR) and benefit-cost ratio (BCR). The results from the profitability analysis show positive net revenue, NPV and IRR. The Benefit-Cost Ratio is also greater than one, implying that investment in aquaculture production is a profitable and viable business venture for small-scale farmers. The results reveal that over the useful life of the ponds, which is assumed to be 10 years, the estimated NPV is 17,524.13 ZMW and the IRR is 42.38%, measured at the discount rate of 15%. The positive NPV implies that the aquaculture enterprise is feasible and profitable. Key words: Aquaculture, profitability, Zambia

Determinants influencing antibiotic use in Singapore's small-scale aquaculture sectors: A qualitative study.

Singapore’s Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) national strategic action plan includes inappropriate use of antimicrobials in food-producing animals as a specific priority. Although the use of antibiotics and other drugs are monitored by regulatory bodies, food fish farmers are allowed to buy and administer antimicrobials without a veterinary prescription. We conducted a qualitative study of Singaporean food fish farmers to understand patterns and determinants of antibiotic use, their knowledge of antibiotic resistance, as well as perceptions of on-farm infection prevention and control measures. During the interview, participants were asked about their farming processes, farm infrastructure, antibiotic use and any disease prevention measures. Thematic analysis of participants’ interviews showed that antibiotic for growth promotion and infection prevention was uncommon among local food fish farmers. The following three main themes influenced participants’ decisions to use antibiotics in their practice: 1) individual factors, 2) local regulatory factors as well as 3) market-related factors. Individual factors included their personal experience and knowledge both with antibiotics as well as with alternate options. In terms of local regulatory factors, we found that regular oversight was a strong deterrent in antibiotic use. Last, at the market level, the relatively high price of antibiotics in Singapore coupled with stiff competition was a strong disincentive for participants to use antibiotics in their farming practice. These factors were also influential in their relationships with local regulatory bodies as well as their counterparts. Although industries differ significantly across countries, lessons learnt from Singapore’s food fish farming demonstrate the importance of an environment where multi-dimensional factors come together to discourage the irrational use of antibiotics in food animal production. In addition, our results allow greater insight into food fish farmers’ perspectives on infection control and form a basis from which further research work can be undertaken.

Green Business Behaviour, Green Technologies, and Sustainability in SMEs

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the management and environmentally- friendly behavior of small-scale aquaculture businesses with emphasis on the institutional environment, entrepreneurial orientation, and green technology. Design/methodology/approach: The sample consists of 198 respondents in the aquaculture-based SMEs, analyzed with structural equation model (SEM) by using AMOS software. Findings: The findings show the role of management and business behavior in green business of aquaculture SMEs. This behavior affects the cost and resource efficiency. Practical implications: The results contribute for SMEs how to manage environmentally friendly businesses through process that encourages environmental governance. Originality/value: This finding is based on resource based view theory, by identifying and managing the potential resources through green business initiative in SMEs.

Land Suitability for Sustainable Aquaculture of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in Molinopampa (Peru) Based on RS, GIS, and AHP

Peruvian aquaculture, specifically trout production, has had significant growth over the past ten years. However, the establishment and expansion of small-scale aquaculture have been carried out without considering the suitability of the land. In Peru, such land suitability studies have yet to be reported. Therefore, a methodological framework is presented for inland aquaculture, which may be replicated, with the necessary complements, for the entire Fisheries and Aquaculture sector in Peru. This work modeled the suitability of land for sustainable rainbow trout aquaculture in the Molinopampa district (Peru). Fifteen key criteria (socioeconomic, environmental and physicochemical) were identified for the proper development of fish activity. These were mapped using Remote Sensing (RS) and Geographic Information Systems (GIS). The Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) was applied to build peer-to-peer comparison matrices and weight the importance of the criteria. The weighted overlay of maps (criteria) made it possible to determine that 4.26%, 23.03% and 69.73% of the territory is “very suitable”, “moderately suitable” and “marginally suitable”, respectively, for the development of aquaculture. The implementation of this methodology will contribute to more effective investment planning and efforts, both by the government and by private initiative.

A Prototype System for Real-Time Monitoring of Arctic Char in Indoor Aquaculture Operations: Possibilities & Challenges

In this exploratory study, we studied and qualitatively evaluated a prototype video data collection system to capture and analyze fish behavior in a small-scale indoor aquaculture operation. The research objective was to design and develop a hardware / software system that would have the potential to capture meaningful data from which to extract fish size, swim trajectory, and swim velocity, ultimately as information toward an assessment of fish health. The initial work presented in this paper discusses the development choices of the prototype system, including various combinations of lighting and camera positions both inside and outside of the aquaculture tanks, and several post-processing techniques to isolate fish in video, calibrate the distance from camera to fish through water, and infer fish trajectories and swim velocities. Preliminary results provided a qualitative assessment of such a system. Specific results on the system’s ability to detect fishes’ positions, trajectories, and velocities are presently limited to observational outcomes and descriptive statistics rather than large-scale quantitative analysis. The present work lays a foundation for a future commercially hardened system that would be required for the collection of larger datasets, which would in turn facilitate the future development of machine learning (ML) algorithms to begin to statistically correlate data to fish conditions and behaviors in near-real time.

La acuicultura y sus oportunidades para lograr el desarrollo sostenible en el Perú

Aquaculture is booming, both globally and within Peru, and its continued development will require an approach founded upon sustainability, efficiency and competitiveness. This study offers an overview of the strategies proposed by various authors and specialized institutions, including smallscale aquaculture, the productive evaluation of native species, the cultivation of algae, and primary consumers. Other themes addressed include, where environmental and economic conditions make it viable, the diversification of aquaculture towards intensive, integrated and polyculture production, particularly at sea. In the application of all possible strategies, transversal planning involving research, technology, innovation, the productive economy, the health sector, and the training of human capital will play an important role. In order to ensure the successful management of aquaculture development throughout the world, and particularly in Peru, knowledge concerning the practical application of other successful productive ventures will be beneficial.

Economic feasibility analysis of small-scale aquaculture of the endemic snailPomacea patula catemacensis(Baker 1922) from southeast Mexico

The snailPomacea patula catemacensisis an endemic mollusk from the southeast Gulf of Mexico, which is commercially exploited and in decline since 2010. This decline is associated with an increasing market demand and illegal capture. We designed a small-scale production system forP. p. catemacensisand determined its financial feasibility for a base scenario. We used information gathered from stakeholders and stochastic modeling to predict the impact of uncertain variables on the economic indicators to assess the financial viability under varying conditions. The small-scale intensive production system, designed to yield 3.9 tons/year of unshelled product, requires an investment of about US $65,000. The production unit was financially assessed using the Modified Internal Return Rate and The Net Present Value of cash flow, considering a 14% discount rate and a 7% reinvestment rate. We obtained a Net Present Value of $67,000 and a Modified Internal Return Rate of 20% for the base scenario, which indicates the viability of the project. A Monte Carlo simulation was run to assess the robustness of the project to variability of three parameters: labor cost, energy cost, and market price; with random and simultaneous variation, resulting in 95% probability of getting a Modified Internal Return Rate larger than the current interest rate (8%) and a low probability (2.8%) to be financially unviable. This production system is worthy of consideration as an option to reduce the fishing pressure on the tegogolo natural populations of the Catemaco Lake while satisfying the market demand.

Performance of emergent aquaculture technologies in Myanmar; challenges and opportunities

This paper assesses the performance of small-scale aquaculture technologies and factors influencing production, associated income and fish consumption of such technologies within agri-food farming systems in Myanmar. Farmer participatory research carried out between May 2017 and December 2018 showed that fish production could be substantially increased using available yet hitherto unused water resources through adoption of improved extensive aquaculture technologies. The technologies were tested in existing earthen ponds, Chan myaung (garden-irrigation systems) and WISH ponds (Water and Fish artificial ponds lined with tarpaulin). The Chan Myaung and WISH pond technologies were adapted and introduced in rural and urban contexts respectively. Both systems demonstrated considerable potential as a source of additional household income and food with potential for wider adoption in Myanmar. Urban households from the Central Dry Zone (CD), Upper Myanmar benefited more than rural households involved in this trial in the Ayeyarwady Delta (AD) through enhanced direct consumption of fish while the latter gained more income from selling fish. This indicates the higher relative importance of aquaculture in terms of improving access to nutritious food for households living in the food-insecure CDZ than for households in AD, where aquaculture is more commercially oriented.Farmers gained a higher production (10,875 kg/ha and 5182 kg/ha equivalents; 117 kg/household (hh) and 8.3 kg/hh and income (12,895 USD/ha and 8383 USD/ha equivalents; 128 USD/hh and 13.4 USD/hh) from monoculture of pangasius (Pangasius hypophthalmus) and nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) in the AD and CDZ respectively. However, the gross margin (1134 USD/ha and 3433 USD/ha) and benefit-cost ratio (1.1 and 2.2) from these species were lower than for other selected treatments. In terms of returns on investment silver barb (Barbonymus gonionotus) (1.9) and tilapia (2.2) proved to be the most profitable species in the AD and CDZ respectively. Rohu (Labeo rohita) monoculture showed similar results in production and gross margin to tilapia, however it could prove to be more successful than other species due to local fish preferences. In general, rohu in monoculture was the treatment that performed the best in terms of securing the highest gross margin. It was concluded that significant potential exists to develop small-scale aquaculture systems that can improve income and nutrition of all types of producers from both regions. Reference is made to the potential impacts of such changes on households if these systems and species were adopted more widely in Myanmar.

Sea Surface-Visible Aquaculture Spatial-Temporal Distribution Remote Sensing: A Case Study in Liaoning Province, China from 2000 to 2018

Aquaculture plays an important role in providing food and reducing poverty but it affects environmental change and coastal ecosystems. Remote sensing is a technology that is helpful in the spatial-temporal dynamic monitoring of aquaculture, coastal management, and environmental monitoring. Most research focuses on inland and coastal areas, and little attention is paid to the extensive distribution of marine aquaculture. As an example, we use the freely available Landsat data of the developed marine aquaculture Liaoning Province of China and use the object-oriented automatic extraction method to analyze the spatial and temporal distribution information of marine aquaculture from 2000 to 2018. The accuracy evaluation from the randomly distributed sample points in high-resolution remote sensing images shows that the extraction accuracy for all of the five individual years of aquaculture area was higher than 82%. The results showed that (1) in the past 19 years, the area of marine aquaculture in Liaoning Province showed an increasing trend, which increased from 35.41 km2 in 2000 to 201.83 km2 in 2018, approximately 5.7 times increase in total area, but the growth rate decreased slightly due to government policy and the environmental quality of the sea area. (2) The centroid of offshore aquaculture in Liaoning Province shows a migration pattern to the northeast, in general, extending from the Dalian Bay sea area to the eastern sea area of the Dalian Chengshantou National Nature Reserve of Coastal Landform in the northeastern direction, and the migration distance reached 48.78 km. Moreover, the migration distance between 2005 and 2010 was the largest of all of the periods, reaching 35.43 km. The new marine aquaculture areas are mainly concentrated in the eastern direction of Xiaoyao Bay, the Changshan Islands, and Guanglu Island in Changhai County. (3) The landscape pattern of marine aquaculture in Liaoning Province is split, large-scale aquaculture and small-scale aquaculture are symbiotic, and landscape ecological activities are active. For local managers, this study can provide valuable supporting data for the assessment of marine aquaculture yield in this region, comprehensive control and management of the marine environment, and stability of the marine ecosystem. For other countries or regions, this work provides a great reference value for monitoring the dynamic spatial distribution of marine aquaculture.

Fabrication and Evaluation of Screw-like Fish Pelletizer

Good and balanced meals are required for fish to stay healthy and the production of these meals requires some machines like pelletizer. This study therefore contributes to the improvement of existing models of this machine by designing, fabricating and evaluating the performance of a new pelletizer. After fabrication, 5 kg fish feed ingredients weight was processed for 2.5 minutes in the machine in quadruplicate. The average discharge efficiency, percentage loss due to residue ingredients and production rate for the machine are 92.25 %, 7.75 % and 110.7 kg/h, respectively. The results showed that an increase in drying days led to a corresponding increase in percentage moisture content removal with a similar reduction in the weight of the pelletized fish meal. This machine will be of great assistant to medium and small-scale aquaculture farmers, thereby reducing the need for foreign sources of fish feed in fish farming sector.

Assessing the economic impact of climate change in the small-scale aquaculture industry of Ghana, West Africa.

Background: Aquaculture in Ghana is very profitable, but faces sustainability challenges. This paper assessed the impact pathways by which climate change affects the production and profitability of small-scale aquaculture in Ghana. The study analyzed and compared the economic value of smallholder fish farms with and without the incidence of climatic parameters. Methods: Simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the study area and farms. A total of 30 farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire-based interview. Additionally, using document analysis, observation, and data on farms' production input and output values, the economic impact of climate change on fish farms was assessed. Results: Extreme temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, drought, storm and erosion are prevalent in fish farms. Available data shows a decrease of 53.4% of small-scale revenue, a 6.9% reduction in small-scale aquaculture value from GH¢ 83,000 to GH¢ 120,000 reducing fish supply by 25%. The findings indicate that the profitability, economic value, and livelihoods of the small-scale aquaculture industry is greatly affected by changes in climate. The incidence of floods, drought, erratic rainfall, erosion, and extreme temperature synergistically induce poverty. The implication on the livelihoods of fish farming households is very alarming and poses a serious threat to food security in the country. Conclusion: Based on the findings, this study concludes that; floods, rainfall temperature, and drought are the major climatic factors affecting the profitability and sustainability of the pond aquaculture industry. The preliminary recommendation is that there is an urgent need to map out flood-free zones close to perennial water bodies to overcome floods and droughts. Planting trees around ponds to create a micro-ecologies ideal for fish culture and also the construction of water storage facilities and proper dyke design would overcome drought and erosion issues. The adaptive capacity of fish-farmers must be built.

Economic impact of predatory piscivorous birds on small-scale aquaculture farms in Kenya

This study assessed the economic loss due to pond-fish predation by piscivorous birds in small-scale aquaculture systems in western Kenya. Piscivorous birds were surveyed in the field through daily focal scan sampling to record abundance and species richness. Overall fish damage by birds was quantified from known daily feeding rates, and economic-loss estimates were projected for a six-month production season. The influence of farm habitat features on bird diversity and frequency was also evaluated. These features included hedgerow characteristics, size of fallow areas, presence of woodlots, tree density and pond proximity to dwellings. Thirteen piscivorous bird species were identified. Their abundances increased with increasing tree density and pond distance from houses, except when exotic hedgerows were present. Total seasonal fish damage by birds, mainly large waders, across all farms was estimated at 2.141 tonnes per production season valued at USD 12,845, representing 15% of the projected production. This corresponded to an average loss of 33 kg of fish (worth USD 165) per pond, and is a substantial and challenging setback for rural aquaculture. Urgent action through habitat management and capital support is required as a necessary step for reducing investment losses and sustaining the local food supply while at the same time protecting wildlife.

WHY SHALL WE CONSIDER THE GENDER IMPLICATIONS OF BIODIVERSITY MANAGEMENT? THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE MEDITERRANEAN REGION

Women as farmers, livestock keepers, fishers and forest dwellers play vital – often overlooked – roles in natural resources use and management in the Mediterranean region. Women’s exclusion from decision making bodies and unequal access to productive resources represent a missed opportunity in terms of sustainable management of available resources and economic development. Recent studies indicate that if men and women equally participate in the labour market, in the southern Mediterranean region the GDP could rise by 47% over the next decade, meaning an annual benefit from an economic impact of €490 billion (Woetzel et al., 2015). The Director General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), José Graziano da Silva, at the fourth Regional conference on women’s empowerment in the Euro-Mediterranean region stressed that rural women’s contributions and leadership is crucial to feed the Mediterranean region’s growing population and achieve sustainable food production: «By enabling rural women to reach their full potential, we can make food systems more inclusive, efficient and effective» (FAO 2018). In the region women sustain such food systems by gathering wild plants for food, medicinal use, fuelwood and other purposes, acting as herbalists, tending home gardens, selecting, managing and storing seeds, managing crops, trees and small livestock, domesticating plants, participating in small-scale fisheries and aquaculture, and storing, preserving and processing foods after harvesting. They have a unique knowledge about local biodiversity, which is often passed from generation to generation (FAO, 2019; World Bank, FAO and IFAD, 2009). Nevertheless, still too often women have less access than men to land and livestock, production inputs and services such as education, extension and credit, and are not represented in decision-making processes related to food and agriculture (Lehel 2018; World Bank, FAO and IFAD, 2009).

Feasibility of a wind-powered aeration system for small-scale aquaculture in developing countries

Small-scale aquaculture is an important source of income and food in many developing countries. However, yields from many aquaculture ponds can be limited due to the lack of dissolved oxygen (DO). In the developed world, aeration systems are employed to increase stocking density and yields. However, these systems are expensive and energy intensive, putting them out of reach for farmers in many developing countries. This paper describes a new Wind Powered Aeration (WPA) concept, which can improve DO content in small-scale fish ponds. The WPA concept consists of a Vertical Axis Wind Turbine (VAWT) coupled to a sub-surface impeller. The impeller pulls water from the pond bottom to the surface through a draft tube. This introduces circulation, limiting DO losses and improving overall DO content. This paper presents the concept and models used to understand the performance. An experimentally validated computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was used to enhance a bench-scale version of the impeller. The performance for the full-scale device was then estimated using CFD. These CFD results were used in a DO model to estimate the device impact. Results showed the WPA system could increase the overall DO content by 48%. This demonstrates the approach has the potential to improve DO and yields for small-scale aquaculture.

Sustainable Aquaculture Futures

Sustainable Aquaculture Futures

Economic Analysis of Small-Scale Aquaculture Enterprise in Ghana; a Case Study of Sunyani Municipality

Aims: This study analyses the economic performance and gender distribution of the small-scale aquaculture of Ghana using Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Cash flow as well as gender distribution of the small-scale aquaculture of Ghana. 
 Study Design: This study is exploratory in its design. The study identified certain relationships and associations. Data was gathered from a sample drawn from a population. Questionnaire-based interview was designed and administered to the small scale fish farmers in the Sunyani metropolis. Both quantitative and qualitative research methods will be employed for the study. A case study method will also be used due to the fact that it has the benefit of permitting for an intensive collection of data required to fulfil the goals of the research
 Place and Duration of Study: The study was conducted at the Sunyani Municipality in the Brong Ahafo Region of the Republic of Ghana between November 2017 and February 2018.
 Methodology: The study randomly selected 20 farms out 40 farms and farmers interviewed using questionnaire. A 600 m2 pond was further selected as a model of the small-scale aquaculture and used to perform the economic analysis.
 Results: The total start-up capital for a 600-meter square pond is estimated at $2693.15. Huge part, 56.9 percent, of the amount goes into fixed investment like pond construction, acquisition of land, and farm buildings. The economic analysis shows a viable industry with an estimated NPV of $605.4484 and IRR of 24.19 percent. 
 With gender, the study reveals a huge gap in man-woman distribution in the fish farming trade. Majority of the farms surveyed did not females, with the male having 77 against the female with 23%.
 Conclusion: The study has found a viable aquaculture industry with high profitability that can improve the livelihood of fish farming households.

Exploring determinants for the implementation of mixed TURF-aquaculture systems

Territorial use rights in fisheries (TURFs) have been highlighted as a means to deter the race for fish. Nevertheless, in many situations TURFs are not able to meet all their goals, jeopardizing their continuity. Here we explore one of several innovations on TURFs, mixed TURF-aquaculture systems, which can help overcome the challenges of maintaining sustainable socio-ecological systems. We analyzed the history of mixed TURF and small-scale aquaculture systems in Chile, particularly 8 recent learning platforms in the Coquimbo region. Additionally, we assessed the impact of 6 variables, from multiple spheres, on the implementation of mixed TURF-aquaculture systems. Despite low values in several variables, 75% of the learning platforms managed to implement aquaculture systems and 38% have been successful in developing monitoring efforts. Social capital was key in the implementation of the mixed systems. By investing in social capital policy makers can contribute to the successful implementation of mixed TURF-aquaculture systems, thus promoting a livelihood diversification strategy for fishing communities that encompasses the economic benefits of aquaculture with the socio-ecological benefits of TURFs. However, their development and enabling conditions must be monitored to embrace their synergies.

Socio-Economic Drivers of Adoption of Small-Scale Aquaculture in Indonesia

Aquaculture has a critical role in achieving the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals of increasing benefits that low-income and least-developed countries derive from marine resources. Its capacity to deliver these outcomes is challenging, particularly for marginalized groups. This is especially true if the introduction of novel technologies is applied with incomplete understanding of socio-economic and bio-physical contexts. We examined what socio-economic factors affect people’s perceptions of adoption of lobster aquaculture in rural households in Indonesia. We used multiple linear regression with model averaging to test the influence of five capital assets (human, social, natural, physical, and financial), including agency, equity, and household sensitivity, on people’s perceived ability to adopt lobster aquaculture. Agency and sensitivity had the greatest influence on the dependent variable. We then used correlation analysis to develop a heuristic model of potential indirect causal mechanisms affecting people’s perceptions of adoption. Our results point to the existence of a ‘sensitivity trap’, where more sensitive or marginalized households are less likely to engage in new economic opportunities. We emphasize the value of multifaceted programs for improving livelihoods, particularly for poorer, more vulnerable households as one way to support the UN’s commitment to using aquaculture as a pathway to achieving sustainable development.

The application of the sustainable livelihood approach to small scale-fisheries: The case of mud crab Scylla serrata in South west India

The sustainable livelihood approach is an analytical framework that helps identifying the assets that local communities rely on, the risks they are subjected to, organisations and institutions influence their daily lives and the strategies they undertake. This is a valuable approach in small-scale fisheries management as artisanal fisheries are exposed to uncertainty in terms of supply and demand, and fishing activities usually are influenced by social and institutional factors. However, in spite of its usefulness and the fact that this approach has been previously used in projects targeting small-scale fisher communities, it is still not widely applied to small-scale fisheries. In this study we applied the sustainable livelihood approach as an analytical tool to assess the potential of the mud crab Scylla serrata as a sustainable livelihood resource for the southwest Indian states such as Karnataka. As fishers worldwide face continuous pressure from industrial fishing fleets and decreased fish stocks and their productivity, we also identified what could be the potential barriers to small-scale mud crab farming for communities that are already are involved in mud crab fishing. Data were collected and analysed from a semi-structured questionnaire, two focus group discussions and key informant interviews conducted in Uttara Kannada district, Karnataka. The results indicated that though mud crab is perceived as a good source of income in this area, at present it is not recognised as a steady source of income due to the unpredictable fishery catches. Respondents were aware of mud crab farming yet stated the lack of land and financial resources as the main barriers and only the minority expressed any interest in undertaking such activity. The sustainable livelihood approach proved to be a valuable research tool for identifying matters of concern for local communities regarding their source of livelihoods and barriers to small-scale aquaculture.

Assessing the economic impact of climate change in the small-scale aquaculture industry of Ghana, West Africa

Background: Aquaculture in Ghana is very profitable, but faces sustainability challenges. This paper assessed the impact pathways by which climate change affects the production and profitability of small-scale aquaculture in Ghana. The study analyzed and compared the economic value of smallholder fish farms with and without the incidence of climatic parameters. Methods: Simple random sampling and purposive sampling techniques were used to select the study area and farms. A total of 30 farmers were interviewed using a questionnaire-based interview. Additionally, using document analysis, observation, and data on farms’ production input and output values, the economic impact of climate change on fish farms was assessed. Results: Extreme temperatures, erratic rainfall, floods, drought, storm and erosion are prevalent in fish farms. Available data shows a decrease of 53.4% of small-scale revenue, a 6.9% reduction in small-scale aquaculture value from GH¢ 83,000 to GH¢ 120,000 reducing fish supply by 25%. The findings indicate that the profitability, economic value, and livelihoods of the small-scale aquaculture industry is greatly affected by changes in climate. The incidence of floods, drought, erratic rainfall, erosion, and extreme temperature synergistically induce poverty. The implication on the livelihoods of fish farming households is very alarming and poses a serious threat to food security in the country. Conclusion: Based on the findings, this study concludes that; floods, rainfall temperature, and drought are the major climatic factors affecting the profitability and sustainability of the pond aquaculture industry. The preliminary recommendation is that there is an urgent need to map out flood-free zones close to perennial water bodies to overcome floods and droughts. Planting trees around ponds to create a micro-ecologies ideal for fish culture and also the construction of water storage facilities and proper dyke design would overcome drought and erosion issues. The adaptive capacity of fish-farmers must be built.