2027 Aquaculture production target already missed? – What stakeholders want gov’t to do

Ghana has one of the highest rates of dependence on fish in Africa as the country consumes over a million metric tons annually. Per-capita fish consumption of fish averages 25kg as compared with the world and African average of 18.9kg and 10.5kg respectively.

With this ever-increasing demand for fish and fishery products, the fisheries sector over the years has provided an important means of livelihood for many in Ghana. Currently it employs about 2.7 million people in the fishing, processing and distribution value chain. 

In spite of the sector’s economic prospects, its sustainability has continued to be threatened by the fast depleting marine fish stock and the consequent decline in net profitability and Gross Domestic Product (GDP) contribution over the years. In reducing the excessive pressure on the marine fishery resource to avert a possible collapse of the industry, there has been a momentous boost in aquaculture promotions. This has given rise to an increasing participation by small to medium-scale fish farmers. 

As of 2021, aquaculture grew to 89,375 metric tons from a meager output of 5,000 metric tons in 2003. Per the country’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Development Plan (2023 – 2027), aquaculture production is expected to further increase to about 200,0000MT by 2027.   

Despite the growth potentials of aquaculture as a complement to the ever-declining marine fish productions, the industry is bedeviled with serious fish health and mortality crisis which is most likely to hamper the realization of the projected 200,000MT by 2027. The industry already has suffered serious outbreaks of fish diseases with most farms yet to recover.

Between 2018 and 2019, the Volta river was plagued by infections which caused some farms to lose as much as 150MT of tilapia. In the face of these, biosecurity measures are non-existent in most fish farms as the country doesn’t even have a biosecurity plan. According to Dr. Peter Ziddah, a fish health expert, the challenge being faced by the sector is a reminder of the crucial importance of biosecurity and sustainability measures.

On the back of this and other calls, Development Action Association (DAA), with support from the GIZ Sustainable Employment through Agribusiness (AgriBiz) programme, has since September 14, 2022, being opening up space for major stakeholders to register their concerns.

For most stakeholders, it has become very critical for the Fisheries Commission to put in place measures to regulate fish farms towards curbing unsustainable and unhealthy business behaviors. This will require an urgent institution of farmer and consumer-oriented programs to promote aquaculture, safeguard sustainable water resource management and food safety. Opportunely, the FAO has spearheaded the development and drafting of an aquaculture biosecurity guideline.

This guideline was validated on November 30, 2022, by stakeholders, and this will lead to bio-certification of fish farms according customized aquaculture best practices on biosecurity and food safety. It will also ensure the protection of wild species and promote healthy, productive, and resilient water-use ecosystems, including domestic jobs and services.

Given the urgency, it has become very necessary for the Fisheries Commission to collaborate with the Veterinary Services Directorate (VSD) and the FAO to operationalize an Aquaculture Biosecurity Plan. As well, the Fisheries Commission should deepen its partnership with stakeholders, especially farmers, to develop and establish a national Aquaculture Bio-Certification program.

This should include self-assessment checklists on biosecurity for farmers and fisheries staff. The institution and implementation of a fish farm bio-certification program in Ghana will strengthen on-farm biosecurity management to minimize unnecessary costs and production losses and reduce the risks of pests and diseases affecting farmed fish and the environment. It will as well reduce the risk of losing market access for Ghana’s farmed fish.    

Another measure that can help in protecting and stimulating growth of the industry, according to stakeholders, is an implementation of a comprehensive Fish Disease Surveillance Plan and Fish Disease Preparedness and Control Plan. Presently, the Fisheries Commission does not have documented aquaculture disease surveillance, and disease preparedness and control plans.

It will therefore be needful for the Fish Health unit of the Fisheries Commission to engage the VSD and develop a comprehensive Fish Disease Surveillance Plan as well as Fish Disease Preparedness and Control Plan for the aquaculture subsector.

Towards guaranteeing safe and high quality fish for consumers in line with international standards and export requirements, the Fisheries Commission should initiate steps to encourage the Ghana Standards Authority to develop a Residue Monitoring Plan (RMP) for aquaculture. At the moment, there is no residue monitoring plan for farmed fish and testing of residues in farmed fish are not done. Consequently, the quality of fish produced in aquaculture systems cannot be ascertained in accordance with the requisite food safety standards.

In enabling the testing of residues in farmed fish, government, through the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission should resource the VSD’s National Food Safety Laboratory or the Food Laboratory of the Ghana Standards Authority with a Liquid Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS) machine and its accessories.   

While calling on the Fisheries Commission and all relevant stakeholders join forces in instituting biosecurity measures to safeguard sustainable aquaculture production in Ghana, the staffing and resourcing of fish veterinarians and aquaculture technical officers to supervise the biosecurity plan and the bio-certification program will be key. The Fisheries Commission currently does not have adequate logistics for its field staff to ensure the delivery of value to fish farmers and the Ghanaian fish consumer.

In addition, the Fisheries Commission should initiate processes to synchronize the operations of the VSD, FDA, GSA, and the Fisheries Commission in veterinary medicine, vaccines, and fish feed registration and use in Ghana. Though the VSD is not under the ministry of fisheries and aquaculture development, fish health veterinarians are working with the Fisheries Commission on secondment from the VSD to assist with aquatic health management, disease surveillance, disease control, reporting to OIE and issuing of fish health certificates for fish exporters.

As enshrined in Sections 97-110 of the Public Health Act 2012, Act 851, the FDA also is responsible for registering and regulating businesses that process farmed fish as well as their premises. It also regulates Fish feed in addition to setting standards and guidelines for the establishment of food processing plants, food storage facilities, labelling of Pre-packaged Foods and the safe disposal of unwholesome food products.

The Ghana Standards Authority (GSA) on the other hand is responsible for establishing standards for handling and processing of fish as enshrined under the Standards Authority Act 1973 (NRCD 173). The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in line with the Environmental Assessment Regulations, 1999 (L.I. 1652) and Water Resources Commission (WRC) under the Water Resources Commission Act, 1996 (Act 522) also expected to play supportive roles relative to environmental and water usage permits respectively for aquaculture operators.

Given the vital roles of all these institutions, the calls for the Fisheries Commission to strengthen its ties have become more important and justified.

Further, efforts by the Fisheries Commission to strengthen collaboration with the various Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and ensuring fisheries desks will significantly help in the quest to derive maximum benefits from aquaculture in Ghana. While section 60 of the Fisheries Act 2002, Act 625 duly mandates the Fisheries Commission as the supervisory agency for aquaculture in Ghana, section 79 of the Local Government Act 1993, Act 462 enjoins MMDAs to ensure the registration and provision of necessary operating permits to anyone who wishes to undertake fish farming alike any business. 

When put in place, these measures will significantly mitigate the long-standing fish health and productivity worries of Ghana’s small and medium-scale fish farmers. In conclusion, these measures will help in boosting the growth of the aquaculture industry and consequently meeting the aquaculture production target of about 200,0000 metric tons by 2027, as projected in the country’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Sector Development Plan (2023 – 2027). These will further contribute to reducing the excessive pressure on the marine fishery resource as well as impacting on the recovery and sustainability of the marine fish stock.

Writer: Bright Yeboah

Read Also: Wasted subsidies worsening Ghana’s fishing expedition

Ghana| Atinkaonline.com

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