Potentials for investment abound in fisheries - Asmah

Accra, Dec. 20, GNA - Mrs Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, on Tuesday said the fisheries sector held a lot of potentials for investors who were willing to invest in it.

Taking her turn at the weekly meet the press series, Mrs Asmah said there were inputs for the manufacture of feed mills for aquaculture, poultry and livestock all year round.

"Anchovies, for instance, abound in Ghanaian waters, especially from September to January, and annual landings have averaged about 67,000 metric tons in the last seven years.

"The fish offal from the two major tuna canneries, amounting to about 12,000 metric tons per annum, is another important source of protein for fish meal production. Soy and maize are also available in the country," she said.

Mrs Asmah said the Fisheries Act allowed foreigners to partner Ghanaians in the exploitation of tuna on a 50/50 basis mainly for export.

Investment, she noted, could also be considered for aquaculture in areas such as shrimp and prawn farming. She said the Ministry had mapped out areas that were suitable for aquaculture farming with only less than .05 per cent already in use for pond culture.

She said Ghana's irrigation policy allowed five per cent of all irrigation sites to be used for aquaculture, whilst the production of fish in cages in reservoirs were also being encouraged. On the issue of Mari-culture, Mrs Asamah said that although no serious work had been carried out in that area, it was believed that it had great potential for the culture of fish in marine estuaries and lagoon environments.