By Benjamin Akoto
Sunyani, (Bono), April 2, GNA –The Bono Region produced about 4,186.2 tons of fish in the aquaculture and capture fisheries sectors in 2024, Mr Hanson Kodzo Dzamefe Jnr, the Bono Regional Director of Fisheries Commission, has said.
In an interview with the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani, he said comparatively, the fish production increased significantly with the 2023 production figure of 2,825.9 tons, saying aquaculture contributed 496.2 tons in 2024 and capture fisheries yielding 3,699 tons.
In 2023, he said the aquaculture and the fisheries sectors produced 455.5 tons and 2,370.4 tons respectively.
Mr Dzamefe attributed the achievement in the fish production to enhanced aquaculture, establishment of new earthing ponds with a total capacity of 12,165 cubic metres as well as the implementation of tarpaulin tanks usage.
He said 81 new tarpaulins were introduced in 2024 as compared to the previous year’s figure of 55 tarpaulin tanks, explaining that the introduction of the new tarpaulins and concrete tanks reached 23,357 cubic metres in 2024, a substantial rise from 1,610 cubic meters in 2023.
More so, he said the supervision of new fish farms was intensified with 66 fish farms being monitored in 2024. In 2023 56 fish farms were monitored.
Mr Dzamefe said in 2024 about 1,477 electronic extension services were provided to the fish farmers in the region too compared to the 732 services offered in 2023 and stressed the commitment to enhancing its extension services to improve production.
He commended Mr Prosper Tome, a fish farmer from the Banda District of the region who was adjudged the Bono Regional Best Fish Farmer in the 2024 celebration of the National Farmers Day.
GNA
DEN/CA