Management, Challenges and Developments of Aquaculture ... 9Data Collection: Key Informants and Experts
Key informants and experts were contacted to solicit their opinion on
challenges, development and opportunities in the aquaculture industry of
Ghna. Experts conducted include; deputy and assistant directors of fisheries,
local aquaculture society executives, feed suppliers, leaders of market
associations.
ANALYSIS OF THE MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS,
CHALLENGES AND DEVELOPMENTS
Management Systems
The aquaculture business is not limited to the fish alone, but combines
various production components such as land space, culture facilities, water,
labour and capital for maximum and continuous returns. It requires effective
management and carrying out routine activities to ensure the best returns from
the farmers’ efforts and capital investments. The success or failure of any
aquaculture venture can be traced to effective management and farm
governance. As the size and complexity of a fish farm increase, sound
management becomes increasingly unavoidable.
Most medium and small scale farmers in Ghana employ operational farm
managers, farm-hands (feeders/harvesters) and security guards to be the main
managing body of their farms. But the few commercial farms in the country
have detailed management structures in place that ensure that quality standards
are not bargained in all the phases of production. Currently, because
competition is getting keen due to the increase in the number of fish farms
emerging and the brisk perishability of products, farmers who want to stay in
business have developed essential managerial strategies and essential
operational functions of the enterprise. Clear responsibilities and reporting, are
therefore important and outlined for an effective operation of fish farm
businesses. A typical management system for Tropo farms, the second largest
cage farm in Africa, after Lake Harvest at Zimbabwe is shown in Figure 3.