Ghana has launched a plan to boost its aquaculture sector, aligning with the global Blue Food Partnership The Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana is leading the project, with support from the Blue Planet Fund, Friends of Ocean Action, and Futurefish.
“Blue Foods” refers to food sourced from bodies of water, such as oceans, rivers, and lakes. This includes aquatic animals, plants, and even algae.
According to a report by Graphic Online, a recent Accra meeting gathered industry experts, from farmers to government officials, to discuss a sector action plan.
Moses Anim, Deputy Fisheries and Aquaculture Development Minister, shared alarming data. He said Ghanaians consume between 20 and 26 kilogrammes of aquaculture products per capita. Moreover, aquatic animals provide a whopping 60% of their protein sources.
However, demand for these products now exceeds supply. With marine resources providing only 55% of protein sources, down from 80%, Anim stressed aquaculture’s increasing importance.
Ghana’s aquaculture is on the rise. “It contributes 20% of our total aquatic animal production,” Anim explained. The government is also revising the 2008 Fisheries and Aquaculture National Policy, spotlighting aquaculture.
Dr. Henry Anim Somuah of the Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana praised international partners for this initiative. He highlighted Ghana’s booming aquaculture industry, the fastest-growing in sub-Saharan Africa.
Dr. Olek Kaminski from Futurefish said the partnership would promote responsible practices, strengthening Ghana’s aquaculture resilience. He added that stakeholder talks have begun, and surveys to pinpoint growth areas are underway.
In short, Ghana is positioning its aquaculture for sustainable growth, meeting the rising demand for blue foods.
