Chinese-owned tilapia farm reopens; gov’t says its tilapia is safe
The situation caused panic among the tilapia consuming public at the time, despite assurances by the Ghana Aquaculture Association which said the situation was contained.
Government said investigations revealed that the Kpong Dam was spilled the day before the fish kill incident, and that clinical observations of the dead fishes showed “clouded gills with high hyperemia of the gills and excessive mucus exudation” These signs, it explained, suggest that there was a problem with the environment of the fishes the farm and that “the cause of the kill could either be a foreign matter in the environment or low dissolved oxygen” It said this was corroborated by the results received from M/S Aquavet Solutions representing ICYTO Pharma, a lab in France. The laboratory, according to the Ministry, identified the presence of “streptococcus agalactiae” as possible cause of deaths of the fish at the farm. This virus, it noted, was not new in the industry as it has since 2005 been affecting the industry, adding an “autogenous vaccine” has always been used to address mortalities arising out of the virus. Based on these reports, the Ministry said it has caused the Fujian Farm and other nearby farms which were closed down after the fish kill, to reopen for business. Effects of continuous closure The Ministry said the continuous closure of the farms could have dire consequences on the industry, hence their reopening. “Considering that the continuous closure of the farm could lead to high production cost and its attendant high prices for the consumer, the farms have therefore been opened”. Meanwhile it said a lot of measures are being taken by the Fish Unit of the Fisheries Commission together with the farms to avoid recurrence of the incident. These measures includes strict implementation of biosecurity and sanitary measures, application of appropriate targeted vaccine for streptococcus agalactiae, examination of the feed production facility and continuous monitoring of the farms. “We are of the view that these farms would cooperate with is to achieve the desired results in the interest of the general public,” the statement said. By Stephen Kwabena Effah|editors.3news.com|Ghana Follow @steviekgh_TV3
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Steven Effah is a writer with 3news.com. Follow him on X, @effah-steven and LinkedIn: Steven Effah