Fish production is the fastest growing in the global food sector with an annual rate of 10 percent for over centuries.
About half of the demand for food security is also being met by aquaculture. Fish farming and other aquatic products will therefore need to double by 2030 to meet growing demand.
But future growth of fish production is under the threat of climate change due to the variability of temperature and erratic rainfall patterns.
Farmer in Ashanti Region lose 17 tonnes of Fish in a year
58 year old fish farmer in the Ashanti region has lost about 17 tons of fish to flood since 2014 costing his farm close to Ghc 170, 000.
John Kwesi Mensah says production had gone down adding, “I have to pump water into the ponds during the dry season to keep the fish alive.”
John is just one of the many who have lost tons of fish through flood.
Lake Bosomtwe lose its glory of fishing expedition
Lake Bosomtwe, which used to produce tonnes of fish for the local people, is now losing its value as a fishing expedition site.
A local fish farmer who has just returned from the expedition recounted his troubles on the lake. He says “the fishes are no more in large quantity. One has to stay on the lake much longer before they could make some few catch.”
This also affect fish business as market women are not also meeting their expectations. “There are no fish to buy. I came here for a long time,” a frustrated market women
Fish farmers disappointed with production
Isaac Kwaku Owusu, another fish farmer is not satisfied with current production. He wants to meet his target every month to boast the fisheries industry.
“I am introducing cage culture to increase production,” he said. Isaac is on the bit to avoid his fish being carried away by flood and other factors that might affect his production.
He has what he called Gisco Falls that supply oxygen to the fish.
What Experts Say…
Developing simple raised ponds is what some experts recommend for fish farmers. Dr. Hederick Dankwa at the CSIR-Water Research Institute advised fish farmers to strengthen dykes of their pounds and construct drains around the ponds.
“Siting of ponds close to rivers and stream is likely to cause flood,” he says.
Dr. Dankwa says more torrential rains are likely to fall and such incidence may sweep away fishes close to river or stream side.
Position of Fisheries Department in the region
Fisheries Officer at the Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Hanson Kodzo Dzamefe Jnr agrees climate change can readily affect fish production but want farmers to device new of fish farming.
“Fish farmers should avoid constructing ponds on wetlands to avoid fish being carried away by flood,” he says.
The way forward
Recent inconsistencies in temperature and rainfall patterns is showing negative signs to fish farming, contributing to major loss of production.
For some fish farmers, the impacts of climate change may push them out of the business. Others want urgent adaptation measures to enable them cope with the situation.
Source: adomonline
