The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, Mrs Mavis Hawa Koomson, has said aquaculture is expected to contribute 28% of domestic fish production by 2024, up from 14% presently.
“Total domestic fish production in 2021 was 628,617.53mt, with aquaculture contributing 89,375.48mt (14.22%), while the national fish requirement was 1,268,800.00mt, resulting in a 640,182.47mt deficit,” she said.
According to her, the shortfall presents opportunities for new entrants and existing aquaculture operators to expand operations or diversify into other areas along the value chain.
Speaking at the Aquaculture Investors Forum at Ada, Mrs Koomson stated that the Ministry was implementing the Aquaculture for Food and Jobs (AFJ) programme, which provides support to youth organisations, struggling farmers, educational institutions and security agencies through the provision of fish feed, fish fingerlings and extension services.
She added that with support from GIZ, the Ministry also initiated the Aquapreneurship Project in the Western Region in 2021.
Mrs Koomson noted that the development of aquaculture was constrained by several factors, including high costs of fishing inputs, high costs of feed, low diversification of farmed species, low investment, low technology and disease outbreak in fish farms.
She assured the investors that the government was committed to fostering a favourable environment for fisheries and aquaculture through regulatory reforms to sanitise the industry.
The minister urged the industry’s stakeholders and potential investors to think about partnering and networking to turn the sector into a profitable business.
Irene Wirekoaa Osei, ISD