Government has banned the importation of all ornamental fishes and tilapia species in a bid to check a possible spread of Tilapia Lake Virus in Ghana.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development, the ban has been necessitated by rife cases of the virus that is associated with significant mortalities in farmed tilapia across Africa, Asia and South America.

“The Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is with this release placing a BAN on the import of all ornamental fishes and tilapia species (live and dead) including gametes-eggs and milt into the country effect from July 1, to December 31, 2018,” a statement released on Wednesday by the Ministry said.

The Ministry has given assurance that it will follow up with capacity building and awareness creation programmes at different levels to farmers, hatchery operators, extension officers, and consumers and the general public to support the implementation of simple farm-level biosecurity programmes.

The virus is responsible for the decimation of some populations of tilapia and was discovered only recently.

Though not a human health risk, Tilapia Lake Virus has a large potential to impact global food security and nutrition.

Read the full statement from the Ministry below.

PRESS RELEASE ON TILAPIA LAKE VIRUS (TiLV)

BAN ON TILAPIA AND ORNAMENTAL IMPORTS 

Tilapia Lake Virus is a newly emerging virus that is associated with significant mortalities in farmed tilapia. The attention of the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development (MoFAD) has been drawn to the fact that, cases have been reported across Africa, Asia and South America that the virus represents a huge risk to the global tilapia industry.

Ghana bans importation of tilapia

This means all countries should be vigilant and act quickly to investigate cases of mortalities in farms.

In line with this, the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development is with this release placing a BAN on the import of all ornamental fishes and tilapia species (live and dead) including gametes-eggs and milt into the country effect from 1st July to 31st December 2018.

The ban is one of the immediate actions being taken by the Ministry to help prevent and control the virus since its treatment is not known.

The Ministry will follow up with capacity building and awareness creation programmes at different levels to farmers, hatchery operators, extension officers, and consumers and the general public to support the implementation of simple farm-level biosecurity programmes.

Consumers and stakeholders are therefore advised to report any issues arising from or related to this issue to the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development. The Ministry will also update the public on any new developments on this in due time.