The Nigerian Los Lagos state government signed a joint venture agreement with Dula Agro-Services Limited for the establishment of Los Lagos Aquaculture Center of Excellence (L.A.C.E) project, an aquaculture production and processing center that will be using the latest technology in Recirculating Aquaculture Systems (RAS) and semi-flow through systems.

The center upon completion will have a hatchery, grow-out and processing facilities and a feed mill and aims to produce 50 million fingerlings, 2,000 tons of table-sized fish, 20,000 tons of processed fish and 24,000 tons of fish feed per year. It will be located at Igbonla in the Eredo Local Council Development Area of the State.

“The LACE Project will anchor the growth and development of aquaculture, drive the diversification of farmed fish species, contribute towards food security, support 5,000 fish farmers and conduct extensive research and training focused on aquaculture farming practices,” said the State Commissioner for Agriculture, Abisola Olusanya. “The annual fish demand in Lagos state is estimated at 374,000 tons of which 174,553 tons (46%) are produced from both captured fisheries and aquaculture annually. Therefore, to upscale fish production and reduce the shortfall between the demand and supply gap requires strategic partnerships with innovative companies that have expertise in agricultural-based developmental projects such as aquaculture.”