Fisheries (Alternative B) Waec Syllabus

Below is this 2026 Waec Syllabus for Fisheries (Alternative B). Note that this syllabus is for both internal and external candidates.

Aims and Objectives

  • the importance of fisheries in the socio-economic development of West Africa
  • skills in fish farming
  • basic entrepreneurial skills in fisheries-related vocations
  • the effects of water pollution on fishery resources
  • fish preservation and processing techniques

Scheme of Examination

There will be three papers, Papers 1, 2 and 3, all of which must be taken.  Papers 1 and 2 will be a composite paper to be taken at one sitting.

PAPER 1:       Will consist of forty multiple choice objective questions, all of which should be answered within 40 minutes for 40 marks.

PAPER 2:       Will consist of six essay questions.  Candidates will be required to

Answer four questions within 2 hours for 80 marks.

PAPER 3: This will be a practical paper for school candidates and an alternative to a practical work paper for private candidates. Each version of the paper will consist of four questions, all of which should be answered within 1½ hours for 60 marks.

REQUIREMENTS

  • Schools offering Fisheries must have at least a small glass/plastic tank/aquarium and a fish pond/concrete tank.
  • The study should be supplemented by visits to well-established fish farms, fisheries research institutions, fishing companies and other institutions related to fisheries.
  • It is recommended that candidates keep practical notebooks which should contain records of activities based on laboratory and individual observations carried out in glass tanks/aquaria and fish farms, field trips and also records of specimens collected.
  • Schools should prepare an album of fishery organisms, fishing gear and craft and different fish-rearing facilities and equipment for teaching purposes.

Detailed Fisheries (Alternative B) Syllabus

BASIC CONCEPTS IN FISHERIES

Introduction to Fisheries
  • Meaning of fisheries
  • Sub-divisions of fisheries
Importance of fisheries

PROCESSES OF FISH PRODUCTION

Capture fisheries
  • Different methods involved in capture  fisheries.
  • Materials  required for capture fisheries and their uses
Culture fisheries
  • Identification of common qualities of culturable fish species
  • Identification of common culturable fishery organisms
  • Culture facilities

TYPES OF FISH CULTURE FACILITIES AND CULTURE SYSTEMS

Fish ponds
  • Types of fish ponds
  • Components of fish ponds
Systems of aquaculture
  • Types of aquaculture
  • Management systems in aquaculture
Water quality control and monitoring
  • Definition of water quality
  • Water quality parameters
  • Methods of monitoring water quality
  • Water pollution
  • Optimum water parameter ranges

FISH FEEDS AND FEEDING

Fish feed/food materials
  • Identification of different fish feed/food materials
  • Nutritive value of fish feed ingredients
Fish feeding
  • Feeding regime for fish
  • Ideal feeding periods for fish
  • Methods of feeding

FISH POND PREPARATION AND  MANAGEMENT

Fish pond construction
Pond preparation
  • Tools  required for pond preparation
  • Preparation  of ponds for stocking
Pond management
  • Meaning of pond management
  • Pond management practices

FISH HARVESTING AND POST-HARVESTING PROCESSES

Materials and methods for harvesting fish
  • Fishing gear
  • Construction and mending of fishing gear.
  • Methods of fish harvesting
  • Fishing crafts
Post-harvest handling of fish
  • Materials and methods for processing fish
  • Methods of fish preservation
  • Packaging materials for fish
  • Marketing channels for fish

FISH SEED PRODUCTION

Brood stock selection and handling
  • Differences between male and female sexually mature fishes
  • Qualities of good breeders
  • Ways of handling brood stock
Artificial breeding
  • Meaning and importance of artificial breeding.
  • Steps involved  in the artificial breeding of fishes.
  • Equipment and materials used in  the artificial breeding of fish
Managing and nursing fish seed

PRACTICAL FISHERIES

FISH  CULTURE
  • Environmental conditions in fish habitats
  • Tools and equipment used in fish culture.
  • Common culturable fish species
  • Fish feed and materials
  • Materials for  pond preparation
FISHING GEAR AND CRAFT
  • Fishing gear
  • Fishing craft
ISH PROCESSING AND PRESERVATION 
  • Fish processing and preservation
  • Equipment used in fish processing and preservation
  • Fish products and by-products
  • Fish packaging materials

LIST OF FACILITIES AND MAJOR EQUIPMENT

Equipment / Quantity Required
  • DO(Dissolved Oxygen) meter : 2
  • pH meter: 2
  • Conductivity meter : 2
  • Thermometer : 50
  • Water Test Kits : 2
  • Microscopes : 4
  • Magnifying Glass : 30
  • Aquaria Tanks : 5
  • Hatching Troughs : 5
  • Nursery Tanks/Ponds : 3
  • Demonstration Ponds : 1 or more
  • Scoop Nets : 10
  • Aerators and Accessories : 10
  • Plastic Sieves : 10
  • Compounded Feeds : many bags
  • Grinding Machines : 2
  • Charts and Pictures : Assorted
  • Video Clips in Fisheries : Assorted
  • Pelleting Machine : 1
  • Dissection Kits : 2
  • Water pumps : 2
  • Secchi Disc : 2
  • Model Gillnet : 1
  • Model Cast net : 1
  • Model Siene net : 1
  • Model  traps : Assorted
  • Model hooks and line : 2
  • Model trawl net : 1
  • Netting materials : Assorted
  • Hooks packets : 20
  • Nylon ropes : 1
  • Mounting twine : 1
  • Canoe : 1
  • Paddles : 2
  • Gutting knives : 10
  • Measuring boards : 5
  • Weighing balances : 2
  • Hand gloves : 30
  • Freezers : 2
  • Ovens : 2
  • Kilns : 2
  • Fish drying racks : 2
  • Fish boxes : 5
  • Salting trays/basins : 5
  • Sun-drying mats : 5
  • Cardboards box : 5
  • Nylon : 10 (bundles)
  • Baskets : 10

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