Fujian Farms is facing possible shutdown after the Ministry for Fisheries and Aquaculture uncovered what officials described as serious breaches of Ghana’s fisheries and aquaculture regulations during an inspection of the facility.
The enforcement action, led by Fisheries and Aquaculture Minister Emelia Arthur, signals a tougher regulatory posture as the government intensifies oversight of aquaculture operators and pushes for stricter adherence to national production, environmental, and food safety standards.
The inspection, which also covered Tropo Farms, formed part of the ministry’s broader compliance monitoring exercise aimed at tightening controls across the sector and addressing operational practices that could undermine public health, environmental protection, and sustainable fish production.
At Fujian Farms, officials identified multiple violations that placed the facility in apparent breach of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Act, 2025 (Act 1146), and the Fisheries Regulations, 2010 (L.I. 1968).
The infractions included the absence of basic biosecurity protocols, poor sanitation in key operational areas, weak waste management systems, unsafe disposal of dead fish and unhygienic fish handling and processing conditions.
Inspectors also raised concerns over workers operating without appropriate protective gear, as well as erosion around the broodstock section that was affecting water quality and exposing deeper environmental management weaknesses at the facility.
Officials said the findings pointed to “serious non-compliance” with fisheries standards and underscored the operational risks associated with weak internal controls in aquaculture production.
In response, the ministry has issued Fujian Farms a four-week ultimatum to undertake immediate corrective measures or face closure.
Minister Arthur warned that failure to meet the required standards within the deadline could result in the “closure of the facility”, effectively placing the farm on the brink of regulatory shutdown.
As part of the immediate sanctions, the company has been ordered to submit a comprehensive corrective action plan within three days and suspend the stocking of new fingerlings until all deficiencies have been addressed.
A 10-member task force has also been deployed to the site to supervise operations and enforce what the ministry described as “strict compliance” measures.
The facility has additionally been fined GH¢240,000 as an administrative penalty, reinforcing the cost of regulatory breaches in a sector increasingly under pressure to meet higher operational and environmental benchmarks.
The developments at Fujian Farms stood in contrast to conditions at Tropo Farms, which the minister commended for maintaining “high operational and environmental standards”.
Tropo Farms was praised for its structured systems, strong biosecurity protocols, and contribution to food security and employment, with officials presenting it as a benchmark for responsible aquaculture operations.
The ministry said the action against Fujian Farms reflects a “zero-tolerance” approach to non-compliance and reinforces the need for stricter adherence to standards across Ghana’s aquaculture industry.
