Gov’t targets aquaculture expansion to address 500,000-tonne fish supply gap – Finance Minister
The government plans to expand aquaculture production and restore marine and inland fisheries as part of efforts to address Ghana’s annual fish supply gap of about 500,000 metric tonnes.
The Ghanaian government intends to increase its aquaculture output and revive marine and inland fisheries to tackle the country's annual 500,000-tonne fish supply shortfall. Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson disclosed this during the presentation of the 2027 Budget to Parliament on November 12.
Aquaculture will be the main source of the new fish supply, with both commercial operators and small-scale farmers receiving assistance to boost production. The minister emphasized that the 500,000 metric tonne annual fish supply gap is unacceptable and vowed to rectify the situation.
Under the scheme, aquaculture clusters will receive high-quality broodstock, fingerlings, feed, cages, ponds, tanks, aquatic health laboratories, and systems for disease surveillance and water quality management. The government will also offer access to patient financing and insurance to support responsible aquaculture businesses in expanding.
Additionally, fish production will be tied to cold-chain facilities, hygienic processing, testing, transportation, and assured markets to minimize post-harvest losses and improve distribution. Furthermore, the government plans to create modern fish villages and landing sites nationwide.
Regarding fisheries management, the minister announced plans to combat illegal fishing, strengthen the licensing system, and engage local communities in safeguarding the country's fisheries resources. He assured that the government will expand fish supply without compromising the resources that sustain future supplies.
Written by urgent.news from MyJoyOnline Ghana's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
