COA LAUNCHES SMARTHATCH INITIATIVE TO BOOST 2026 AQUACULTURE TARGETS

The Chamber of Aquaculture Ghana (COA) has launched the SmartHatch Initiative, a strategic intervention aimed at reducing fingerling mortality rates as the sector works toward a national production target of 154,000 metric tons by the end of 2026.

The launch took place on February 18 at YOTA in Accra, bringing together local hatchery operators and international experts from FutureFish and MultiFish. The initiative is a collaboration between the three organizations.

Dr. Olek Kaminski of FutureFish advised Ghanaian farmers to focus on mastering basic sanitation and water quality rather than pursuing expensive automation.

“Marco’s system in Brazil is like a Ferrari,” he said, referring to high-tech operations in South America. “And right now, a Ferrari is not what we want to sell in Ghana. We need to go step by step.”

He emphasized that small, low-cost adjustments can yield significant results. “We realized that with small fixes that don’t cost a lot of money; what we call a 20 percent change will have an 80 percent outcome later.”

Marco Peixoto, a specialist from MultiFish, used microscopic analysis during the workshop to demonstrate that many fish appearing healthy are actually carrying parasites.

“When I visited several hatcheries, many said the fish were fine,” he said. “But when you look under the microscope, it is full of parasites.”

He explained that stress from grading or transport weakens the fish’s immune system, allowing these pre-existing conditions to become fatal.

The SmartHatch strategy introduces three core pillars: genetic integrity through blood-spot cards to prevent inbreeding; mandatory biological testing of chemical dosages before full-pond application; and low-cost innovation using materials such as recycled bottle caps and nylon stockings for biofilters.

“You don’t need to import expensive products,” Peixoto said. “If you see a problem, there are local ways to fix it without spending much money.”

Aquaculture currently accounts for approximately 23 percent of Ghana’s agricultural GDP. Disease and poor water quality account for nearly 40 percent of total yield losses.

Reducing mortality rates to below 20 percent could save the industry millions of Cedis annually.

The SmartHatch roadmap aligns with the government’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Bill 2025.

The Chamber of Aquaculture (COA) remains committed to the next phase of the initiative, providing continued technical support to hatchery operators across the country.