The Minister-Designate for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Emelia Arthur, has expressed concern over the diminishing state of Ghana’s marine and inland fisheries resources, emphasising the need for urgent action to support aquaculture as a sustainable alternative.

Speaking during her vetting by Parliament’s Appointments Committee, Emelia Arthur underscored the critical role of fisheries in Ghana’s food security, highlighting that the sector provides 60% of the nation’s protein needs.

The minister-designate revealed that Ghana currently has about six large-scale aquaculture farms, several medium-scale operations, and approximately 2,300 small-scale farms.

To bolster these efforts, she outlined plans to attract direct funding to support aquaculture operators and improve their capacity to meet growing demand.

“Aquaculture is extremely important since fisheries provide 60% of proteins for Ghanaians but our marine and inland resources are depleting. So, we need to enhance aquaculture.

“Currently, we have about 6 large-scale farms, medium scale and about 2,300 small-scale aquaculture farms. So, one of the things we intend to do is to attract direct funding for operators of aquaculture farms.

“Also, one of the things we have to do to support aquaculture is the feed,” she stated.