Proceedings of a Workshop on the Development ... - World Fish Center

STATUS OF CATFISH FARMING AND RESEARCH IN GHANA 29and Technology (KNUST) located inKumasi. Research activities on catfish havegenerally been focused on aspects relatedto biology, reproduction and husbandry(nutrition, culture systems and hatcherymanagement).Unlike the extensive breeding and geneticimprovement research program conductedon the Nile tilapia, O. niloticus, resulting inan improved strain (namely the Akosombostrain) and increased production, virtuallyno such research has been conducted onthe catfish. However, the Department <strong>of</strong>Fisheries conducted trials on the production<strong>of</strong> Heteroclarias through hybridization <strong>of</strong>Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchuslongifilis. Heteroclarias was observed to growfaster than the pure species, but was unableto reproduce naturally in ponds (Kumah,personal com.). Further trials on productionand culture evaluation <strong>of</strong> Heteroclarias werediscontinued due to ecological concernsrelated to biodiversity conservation.CATFISH RESEARCH AT CSIR-WATER RESEARCH INSTITUTE(CSIR-WRI)Clarias gariepinus and Heterobranchuslongifilis have been the two main species <strong>of</strong>catfish under investigation at the CSIR-WRI(formerly the Institute <strong>of</strong> Aquatic Biology –IAB). Under a protocol <strong>of</strong> agreement signedbetween the International DevelopmentResearch Centre (IDRC) <strong>of</strong> Ottawa, Canadaand the government <strong>of</strong> Ghana, a study on‘Development <strong>of</strong> Improved Culture Systemsfor Increased Pond Production’ wasinitiated in 1989. This work aimed at solvingsome <strong>of</strong> the problems associated with thereproduction and husbandry <strong>of</strong> catfish atthe larval and grow-out stages (Owusu-Frimpong et al. 1990). Under this project, anoutdoor hatchery was set up for the artificialreproduction <strong>of</strong> catfish. Initial spawningtrials focused on: the application <strong>of</strong> differenttypes <strong>of</strong> hormones to induce spawning;factors affecting incubation, hatchabilityand survival <strong>of</strong> fertilized eggs in stagnantand flow-through water systems; and thegrowth and survival <strong>of</strong> fry at the nurseryand juvenile stages in tanks and in earthenponds.These initial research efforts were followedin the 1990s with on-station and on-farmstudies aimed at improving survival atthe juvenile and grow-out stages, anddevelopment <strong>of</strong> a reliable protocol forproducing juvenile catfish at the rurallevel. Between 2003 and 2006, researchwas mainly conducted at the AquacultureResearch and Development Center (ARDEC)<strong>of</strong> the CSIR-WRI. It was sponsored by theWorld Bank through the Agricultural SubsectorCapacity Building Project (AgSSIP).Under this project, activities undertakenaimed at improving the production <strong>of</strong> catfishseed, comparing yields from monocultureand polyculture systems, and controllingover-reproduction in tilapia populationsusing varying sizes and ratios <strong>of</strong> catfish.The results from these research efforts aresummarized in Table 2a.CATFISH RESEARCH AT THEUNIVERSITIESCatfish research work at the KwameNkrumah University <strong>of</strong> Science andTechnology (KNUST) was mainly conductedon Heterobranchus isopterus. The mainareas <strong>of</strong> research were varied and relatedto the biology <strong>of</strong> the species. Most <strong>of</strong> thestudies were conducted between 1991 and2003. The following were some <strong>of</strong> the areas<strong>of</strong> investigation: catfish genetics (induction<strong>of</strong> triploidy in catfish), factors affecting theviability <strong>of</strong> storing sperm (germplasm); andcatfish nutrition, such as investigating dietaryprotein and carbohydrate requirements <strong>of</strong>larvae, fry and juveniles, and examination<strong>of</strong> organoleptic properties and quality <strong>of</strong>the flesh <strong>of</strong> catfish. A summary <strong>of</strong> researchconducted at KNUST in Ghana is shown inTable 2b.PRIORITY AREASAND LIKELY FUTUREDIRECTIONSAquaculture has the potential to contributesignificantly to the economy <strong>of</strong> Ghana byproviding improved livelihood opportunitiesand as a source <strong>of</strong> income to peopleinvolved in various sectors <strong>of</strong> the industry.This potential could be enhanced through