Maarten Jay Yaw Van Schoonhoven, an aquaculture specialist, has advised catfish farmers to avoid practices that stress their fish to reduce mortality and protect their investments.

Speaking at a catfish seminar organised by De Heus Ghana Limited in Kumasi, Mr Schoonhoven emphasised that minimising stress in farmed catfish would result in improved health, higher survival rates, and ultimately increase profitability.

The seminar brought together more than 70 catfish farmers and feed distributors.

Mr Schoonhoven spoke on catfish Anatomy and Production, Feeding Management, Biosecurity and Diseases to equip catfish farmers to enhance good productivity.

He explained that fish stress resulted from unfavourable conditions such as over-stocking, overfeeding, poor water conditions, poor handling, feeding fish with rancid feed, and using uncleaned farm tools.

Stress compromised the immune system of fish, making them vulnerable to disease pathogens, which existed in the water, he added.

He listed Aeromonas Hydrophila (ulcer or red sore disease), Crack Head disease (deficiency of vital nutrients in feed), and Jaundice (yellow coloured fish) as some of the diseases of catfish.

Mr Schoonhoven also highlighted warning signs of illness in farmed catfish, such as lack of appetite, abnormal swimming, as well as rubbing behaviour.

He advised farmers to avoid stress-inducing practices to prevent disease outbreaks that could lead to high mortality and significant financial loss.

Mr Schoonhoven advised farmers to add value to their products for better sales and reduce post-harvest losses.

He noted that catfish farmed for smoking purposes required a shorter farming period and feeding than those harvested for immediate grilling or pepper soup popularly called “point and kill.”

Due to this, Mr Schoonhoven urged potential catfish farmers to consider the type of catfish farming system, the cost of feed and possible value addition and the market before venturing into farming.

Participants at the seminar appealed to De Heus Ghana Limited, producers of the Koudijs feed brand, to consider subsidising their products to make them more affordable to farmers.