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Effects of seasonal and environmental changes on aquaculture production in tropical Lake Volta, Ghana

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Abstract

Globally, aquaculture production is faced with numerous challenges, notable among which is water quality. The study determined seasonal environmental changes in Lake Volta and its implications on cage production of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus in experimental and commercial farm (Sun Woo Farm) set-ups. For each set-up, three cages were used, each measuring 81 and 162.5 m3 for experimental and commercial, respectively. The cages were stocked with 22.5 g fingerlings at a rate of 40 and 80 m−3 in experimental and commercial cages, respectively, and fed commercial diet. The growth performance, yield, economics, and selected water quality parameters were monitored during the dry and wet seasons between November 2014 and July 2015. There were no differences in water quality parameters between dry and wet seasons (p > 0.05). Water quality for both seasons remained within limits required for good Tilapia growth in both set-ups. There were minimal variations in growth characteristics between seasons which were not significant; however, final mean weight and yields were high in the dry seasons in both set-ups. The cost of feed and fingerling accounting for about 80% of total costs were the major components identified to affect cost of production. A higher profit index and returns on investment were observed in the dry season in both set-ups and was linked to higher survival rates in the season. Production of Nile tilapia in cages can be cultured throughout the year without any adverse effects as exhibited in similar production patterns in both experimental and commercial set-ups.

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Abbreviations

APHA:

American Public Health Association

BW:

Body weight

CSIR-WRI:

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research - Water Research Institute

CP:

Crude protein

DO:

Dissolved oxygen

FR:

Feeding rate

FAO:

Food and Agriculture Organization

GDP:

Gross Domestic Product

MOFAD:

Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Sun Woo Farms for providing on-farm data needed from a commercial farm. Special thanks goes to the following technical staff: Mr. Edem Amedorme, Mrs. Patience Atsakpo, Mr. Godfred Yeboah, Mr. Serapis Appiah, and Mr. Bright Awunor of the CSIR-Water Research Institute, Accra, and the Aquaculture Research and Development Centre, Akosombo, for assisting in fish data collection and laboratory analyses of water samples.

Funding

The author express their sincerest gratitude to the Danish Foreign Ministry and the DANIDA Fellowship Centre for funding this research work through the project “Climate changes effects on Volta Lake Resources.”

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research-Water Research Institute, Box M32, Accra, Ghana

    Emmanuel T. D. Mensah, Hederick R. Dankwa & Ruby Asmah

  2. Department of Fisheries and Watershed Management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana

    Emmanuel T. D. Mensah, Benjamin B. Campion & Regina Edziyie

  3. Institute for Bioscience, Aarhus University, Vejlsøvej 25, 8600, Silkeborg, Denmark

    Lauridsen L. Torben

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  1. Emmanuel T. D. Mensah
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Correspondence to Emmanuel T. D. Mensah.

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Mensah, E.T.D., Dankwa, H.R., Torben, L.L. et al. Effects of seasonal and environmental changes on aquaculture production in tropical Lake Volta, Ghana. Aquacult Int 26, 1387–1400 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10499-018-0294-7

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