Ghanaian fish farmers have been urged to implement stronger biosecurity measures and vaccinations as illness outbreaks proceed to impression productiveness within the aquaculture sector.
This follows a technical coaching workshop held on Friday, April 24, 2026 on the Volta River Administration Authority in Akuse, Jap Area.
The workshop introduced collectively farmers and stakeholders and was organized by the Ghana Aquaculture Chamber in collaboration with animal well being firm Virbac and Blue Meals Innovation Hub. This coaching was sponsored by Virbac.
Rising illness burden in aquaculture
Specialists attending the workshop expressed concern concerning the persevering with impression of ailments corresponding to streptococcal infections and infectious splenone-kidney necrosis virus (ISKNV), which stay the principle causes of losses in tilapia farming.
They defined that whereas ISKNV primarily impacts juvenile fish within the early phases of manufacturing, bacterial infections corresponding to streptococcus sometimes have an effect on bigger fish, bigger than 150 grams, by which level farmers have already invested closely in feed and manufacturing prices.
In keeping with consultants, demise at this stage leads to critical financial losses, making illness prevention important to farm survival.
Sandy Chatham, Virbac Aquaculture Specialist, burdened that strict biosecurity practices stay the best solution to scale back the unfold of illness and farm losses.
“If farmers act early and keep strict hygiene protocols on their farms, many of the losses we’re seeing could be considerably decreased,” he stated.
He highlighted necessary measures corresponding to fast elimination of lifeless or diseased fish, strict mortality management, and non permanent feeding cessation for no less than three days in suspected outbreaks to cut back stress and sluggish transmission.
The workshop additionally highlighted vaccination as a brand new sustainable device for illness administration in aquaculture.
Specialists famous that fish vaccination includes administering managed doses to sedated fish, and discipline outcomes present that vaccinated fish had survival charges of over 85 p.c and improved progress efficiency.
They added that vaccination is changing into more and more necessary as antibiotic resistance will increase, particularly for the Streptococcus 1B pressure reported in Lake Volta.
WRC warns about environmental compliance
The Water Assets Fee (WRC) additionally used the platform to remind farmers of their regulatory obligations beneath Act 522.
The committee, headed by Eric Muara, emphasised the necessity for water use permits for all aquaculture operations, correct website choice and compliance with environmental requirements.
He identified that cage farms ought to keep a spacing of no less than one kilometer, adjust to depth necessities for waste dispersion, and observe a riparian buffer zone of 50-100 meters to guard water our bodies from air pollution.
“Aquaculture isn’t sustainable if the surroundings is broken,” he warned.
Outlook by sector
Stakeholders say disease-related losses stay one of many greatest challenges in Ghana’s aquaculture trade, notably in tilapia manufacturing the place manufacturing prices are excessive and losses have a major impression on profitability.
The Ghana Aquaculture Chamber stated the coaching is a part of its ongoing efforts to equip farmers with sensible abilities to enhance productiveness, strengthen illness administration and construct resilience throughout the sector.
Virbac additionally reaffirmed his dedication to supporting science-based options, farmer schooling and vaccination protection to enhance the sustainability of Ghana’s aquaculture trade.
