Antibiotic Use in Fish Farming in Asuogyaman District of the Eastern Region, Ghana

Abstract

Introduction Rapid growth in aquaculture has led to increased fish production. There is however global concern about the unregulated use of antibiotics. Antibiotics use in aquaculture is undertaken to make up for unhygienic fish breeding practices. Very little is known about antibiotics use in aquaculture in Ghana. This study was carried to investigate antibiotics use in fish farms located along the Volta River Basin. Methods Three approaches were use in data collection. A questionnaire was administered to farm managers at their farms. Fish samples procured at site were analysed for the presence of antibiotics in the laboratory at the Veterinary Services Division. In-depth interviews were conducted with officials of the Fisheries Commission. Descriptive analysis was conducted, with triangulation of information obtained from the three sources. Results Seventy (70) farms were surveyed and fifty (50) fish samples bought for analysis. The majority of farms were commercial and offered fish for sale at farm sites. Most (95.7%) of the owners were males. About 67.1% of farmers admitted to the use of antibiotics. Antibiotics use was largely for treatment of suspected wounds and without authority or supervision from veterinary officers. Farmers lacked sufficient knowledge on the long term effects of unregulated antibiotic use. Seventy-six percent of the fish samples tested positive for antibiotic residues; these includes fish bought from farms where farmers denied antibiotics use during the interviews. Although officials of the Fisheries Commission acknowledge the unregulated practice, they point to the lack of laboratory capacity to quantify the levels of antibiotics in fish as a major challenge. Conclusion Unregulated use of antibiotics is common in the farms surveyed, and likely on other farms as well. Farmers need to be educated about the potential harm this poses to human health, the environment and growth of the industry. There is the need to urgently establish the capacity to detect levels of antibiotics residues in fish at the Fisheries Commission.