Management, Challenges and Developments of Aquaculture ... 7Pond production accounted for 8% of the total production of farmed fish while
dugouts, dams and reservoirs contributed at 4% of the total aquaculture
production. Concrete ponds and tanks are normally small and mostly used in
hatcheries. Reservoirs and dugouts are mostly found in the northern belt of the
country due to the relatively poor rainfall in northern Ghana and pen culture is
commonly practiced in the Keta lagoon.
MAIN CULTURE SPECIES IN GHANA
Ghana’s freshwater fish fauna includes 28 families, 73 genera and 157
species (Dankwa et al., 1999). Of these species, 121 have been recorded from
Ghana’s portion of the Volta river system, which drains more than two-thirds
of the country (Safo, 2007). The most common species of fish farmed is the
Volta Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) which represents 80% of
aquaculture production (Asiedu et al., 2015; Kassam, 2014). Tilapia is also
one of the most common aquaculture species in the world after carps (FAO,
2014). It has the advantages of fast growing, high tolerance to low dissolved
oxygen, easy breeding, less occurrence of diseases and high yield.
The remaining 20% is comprised of catfish (Clarias, Heterobranchus or
their hybrid). Initially, the catfish was scarce because it requires extraordinary
hatchery techniques which Ghanaian farmers lacked. It is however possible to
produce Clarias seed now using farmer friendly techniques in most farms
(Safo, 2007). There are a few indigenous fish species namely the African
bony-tongue, Heterotis niloticus, bagrid catfish, Chrysichthys nigrodigitatus
and the African snake head, Parachanna obscura, which have aquaculture
potential in Ghana (Dankwa et al., 1999) but have not received extensive
research attention.
Objective of the Chapter
The objective of this chapter is to identify the key management systems,
the challenges of fish farmers in Ghana and highlight development
opportunities in order to develop policy strategies and solutions targeting
specific constraints in the aquaculture industry.