Herpetologist Urges Consideration of Crocodiles in Fish Cage Protection.

Ouahigouya: Fish production stakeholders have been urged to consider crocodile activity when installing floating fish cages, as these reptiles are known to target fish, their preferred food, potentially causing significant damage to costly facilities. Dr. Ilassa Ouédraogo, a reptile specialist, emphasized the need for strategic placement of these cages during a recent meeting with journalists in Ouahigouya.According to Burkina Information Agency, Dr. Ouédraogo's research across more than a hundred water bodies in Burkina Faso indicates that the presence of fish attracts crocodiles, which poses a threat to floating cages used in fish farming. He highlighted the importance of avoiding areas heavily populated by crocodiles to prevent potential damage to cages, which can cost millions of CFA francs.Dr. Ouédraogo, a lecturer and researcher at Bernard Lédéa Ouédraogo University, suggested that measures such as installing lighting and organizing human patrols around water bodies could deter crocodiles, particula rly since these reptiles are most active at night. These precautions, he noted, could help in preserving the integrity of the fish farming infrastructure.The meeting, held on November 16, 2024, was part of a press caravan organized by the Ministry in charge of Higher Education. It aimed to address issues related to the 2023-2024 agro-pastoral and fisheries offensive. This initiative, led by the Ministry of Animal and Fisheries Resources in collaboration with fish farming stakeholders, has seen the installation of floating cages in several bodies of water across Burkina Faso. The Samandéni dam alone is expected to yield over 100,000 tonnes of fish by 2025.