The domestic fish production of Ghana over the years have been inadequate to meet the country’s national requirement, hence a net consumer of fish. For example, in 2022, annual fish production stood at 657,472.31mt as against a requirement of 1,308,219.64mt.
Dwindling stock in the capture fisheries coupled with rapid national population growth rate of 1.96 in 2022 (United Nations, World Populations Prospects) is the result of the deficit. Fish food and nutritional insecurity is widening among the populace, particularly women and children. Aquaculture has been identified as one area to help bridge this production deficit gap.
In more recent years, aquaculture has become a major income earner for improving rural and urban livelihoods, providing employment and animal protein to help address protein malnutrition problems. The main fish produced through aquaculture in Ghana are Tilapia (Oreochromis Niloticus) and Catfish (Clarias gariepinus). There are however, other indigenous fishes that hold the potential for aquaculture production (Amisah and Agbo, 2015).
Aquaculture in Ghana for the past eight (8) years have shown an average increase rate of 59.48%. The sector’s contribution to AGDP and GDP in 2022 was 22.1% and 1.2% respectively (Ghana Statistical service report 2022).
However, notwithstanding the growth of aquaculture in Ghana, challenges such as quality fish seed and feed, high cost of fish feed and inputs, and climate change have been identified as major factors impeding the growth rate.