In 2006,The Ark Shore Initiative began its activities with the production of fish seeds (fingerlings, juveniles) and table-sized catfish (Clarias spp) to feed into the existing market around the Southwestern part of Nigeria. Other activities engaged in the mobilization of about 230 fish farmers in some communities within Akure-North LGA(Oba-Ile, Ita-Ogbolu and Iju) who benefited from self-funded capacity programs of the initiative on modern fish management practices (i.e. including harvest and post-harvest management) all through 2010.
In 2010, the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN – Akure Zone) expressed interest in the capacity building program of the Ark Shore Initiative that would benefit fish producers in terms of provision of linkages to agricultural loans especially for women. After a one year period, Ark Shore Initiative had mobilized and built the capacity of over 450 producers, some of which met the eligibility criteria for accessing agricultural loans on the SMEDAN scheme funded by Bank of Agriculture (BOA)……
