Fish farmers in Brong-Ahafo Region on Monday called on stakeholders in the fishing industry to initiate efforts to resuscitate the hatchery at Dormaa-Ahenkro.
They contended that government undertook feasibility studies to establish a hatchery in 1998 and included it in the 2008/2009 national budgets but the project was still in its embryonic stage.
Brong-Ahafo Fish Farmers Society made the call at a stakeholders’ workshop on the theme: "Making Fish Farming a Living Business" in Sunyani.
Mr Peter Yaw Oppong, Brong-Ahafo Regional Chairman of the Society expressed concern that while members struggled to obtain fingerlings to stock their ponds, the hatchery had been abandoned.
He pointed out that the fishing industry in the Region had waned, with most of the fish farmers abandoning the industry because of the non-availability of fingerlings and the high cost of feeding.
Mr Oppong appealed to government to subsidise inputs such as feeds and production of fingerlings to sustain the industry not only for wealth and job creation but to enhance economic development of the Region.
Mr Francis Barnes, Brong-Ahafo Regional Fisheries Officer, said fish production in the Region had improved over the years.
He said in 2009, 8.6 tonnes of fish were produced from 880 fish ponds in the Region, it increased to 10.4 tonnes in 2010, 13.1 tonnes in 2011 and 27 tonnes in 2012.
Mr Barnes noted that in 2012, the production came from 94 fish ponds, an indication that most of the fish farmers were not in active business.
He said with the resuscitation of the hatchery, the Region would be able to produce two million male tilapia fingerlings and 500,000 catfish for supply.
Mr Barnes said lack of quality fingerlings, especially male tilapia fingerings for supply to fish farmers was a major contributory factor for the low fish production in the Region.