Ghana explores Marine fish farming to restore declining fish stocks
Ghana is exploring marine culture — fish farming in the sea — and community-based commercial fish farming as part of efforts to increase local fish production, strengthen food security, and create employment opportunities for the youth.
The initiative forms part of wider government measures aimed at addressing declining fish stocks and reducing the country’s reliance on imported fish.
Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, disclosed this in an interview with the Ghana News Agency on the sidelines of a regional workshop on advancing the implementation of the Fisheries Transparency Initiative (FiTI) in Anglophone Africa, held in Accra.
“We are at a very dangerous point in terms of stock and enforcement. Government, working with stakeholders, will ensure that we restock and bring sanity into the sector,” she stated.
According to the Minister, overfishing, illegal, unreported and unregulated fishing, climate change, weak regulatory enforcement, high operational costs, and inadequate infrastructure have contributed significantly to declining fish stocks and widening production deficits.
She revealed that Ghana’s annual fish demand stands at approximately 1.2 million metric tonnes, while local production from marine fisheries, inland fisheries, and aquaculture currently ranges between 600,000 and 700,000 metric tonnes, leaving a deficit of nearly 500,000 metric tonnes.
Madam Arthur explained that marine culture, which has not previously been practised in Ghana, is being considered as a strategic solution to increase fish production and promote sustainable fisheries management.
She disclosed that government has granted a provisional licence to Gold Coast Mariculture Limited for what is expected to become Ghana’s first mariculture project.
Fish contributes nearly 60 percent of the country’s animal protein intake, making the sector critical to national food security.
Marine culture is already being practised successfully in countries such as China, Indonesia, Japan, Norway, Vietnam, Chile, and Philippines.
Information gathered by the GNA indicated that some private sector organisations have already expressed interest in investing in the initiative, which aligns with Ghana’s blue economy strategy.
Senior Lecturer at the Department of Fisheries and Marine Sciences at the University of Ghana, Dr Andrews Agyekumhene, described marine culture as a promising intervention capable of significantly boosting fish production.
“The private sector has the funds and expertise, while government develops the regulations and strict enforcement,” he said.
Dr Agyekumhene noted that implementation could begin within the next two years if the necessary technical studies and policy frameworks are completed.
He disclosed that feasibility studies would be conducted in selected coastal areas in the Central Region, Ada, and the Volta estuary to determine their suitability for marine fish farming.
According to him, the studies would assess water quality, habitat mapping, ecological sustainability, security, and economic viability.
He, however, warned that pollution from illegal mining activities and industrial waste could threaten marine culture projects in parts of the Western Region and Tema.
“The Western Region also has some good areas, but that could also be destroyed if galamsey continues at the current rate,” he cautioned.
Dr Agyekumhene added that the initiative would complement ongoing efforts to replenish depleted fish stocks following the establishment of Ghana’s first Marine Protected Area in the Greater Cape Three Points area in the Western Region.
The protected area, which spans more than 700 square kilometres, is intended to restore fish stocks and protect biodiversity, including sharks, sea turtles, and dolphins.
Comments (0)