Accra, Aug. 28, GNA - Mrs. Gladys Asmah, Minister of Fisheries, on Tuesday stressed the need for Ghana to explore the potentials of tuna fishing in order to make it one of the major foreign exchange earners.

She noted that it was the only fish species that had been singled out for international conservation and management by the United Nations.

Mrs. Asmah, taking her turn at the "Meet the Press" series in Accra, said Ghana was the fourth largest tuna producing country in the world hence the need to tap its potential to the fullest. Tuna carries no fat, contains "Omega three" which is good for the body.

She, however, expressed regret about the huge loss of revenue in the tuna trade since 1982, saying the implication on the national treasury was serious.

The Minister blamed this on lack of due care and attention to the industry thereby leading to losses.

Mrs. Asmah, however, said a number of foreign companies and investors had agreed to partner Ghanaians to set up tuna processing factories in the country.

She said a public-private partnership agreement embodied in a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) had been signed. The partners, the Minister said, included Rainbow Fish Consultants, Dolphin Shipping Services, Ghana National Fishermen Council Gratis Foundation and the Netherlands Embassy.

Mrs. Asmah said some of the objectives were embodied in poverty eradication programmes to achieve in the Millennium Development Goals. She said she was happy with the response by the youth to enter into fish farming, noting that the number of fish farmers numbering 1,200 had increased to 5,000.

"Both the government of the People's Republic of China and government of the State of Israel have shown keen interest imparting technology, skills and expertise to Ghanaian fisheries officers and young graduates from our universities and research Institutions." According to her, Chinese companies had also gone further to set up aquaculture farms in Shaman Ahanta East, near River Pra in the Western Region, to produce fingerlings for fish farmers and tilapia for domestic and export markets.

She said the rehabilitation of Ashaiman Aquaculture Demonstration Centre and Kona Odumasi hatchery in the Ashanti Region were to make fingerlings affordable.

The Minister expressed delighted about the training of 390 people, including 28 galamsey operators and 50 Liberian refugees, whom, she said, had now set up their own farms. She said the Ministry was also preparing to receive Genetically Improved Farmed Tilapia from China which could be harvested within four months instead of seven months. 28 Aug. 07