Recent increase in fish production is attributed to aquaculture and culture-based fisheries. However, the aquaculture sector is facing a challenge of sustainability. This study was aimed at identifying and examing the prospects of sustainable aquaculture development in Ghana using the Sunyani Fisheries Zone as a case study. Specifically, the following questions were asked: what are the important factors for aquaculture development for both the operational and non-operational farmer? What are the climatological and environmental factors that pose threat to aquaculture development? To what extent does water, human and financial resources affect the sustainability of aquaculture development in Ghana? The methods employed for data collection were; farm survey and interviews with aquafarmers, document analysis, and fish farm observation. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistics. The results indicate that market establishment, affordability of feed and funding for farmers are the important areas for aquaculture growth. Changing weather patterns and related disasters like floods, droughts, and erosions have negatively impacted on the aquaculture industry and, have reduced its production and profitability.
Prospects and sustainability of aquaculture development in Ghana, West Africa