UNIVERSITY OF ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES

School of Natural Resources

Department of Fisheries And Water Resources

Water Quality Assessment in Aquaculture Systems of

Variable Environmental and Production Characteristics

BY: OTOO EFUA GYANKOMAA NICOLE

UE20061414
1
Supervisor: Peter Sanful (PhD)

18/01/2024
 PRESENTATION OUTLINE
• Introduction
• Problem Statement
• Justification
• Objectives
• Hypothesis
• Materials and Methods
• Expected Results
• Budget
• References
18/01/2024 2
INTRODUCTION
• Fisheries and aquaculture remain important sources of food,
nutrition, income and livelihoods for hundreds of millions of people
around the world (FAO, 2016)

• In Ghana, the most cultured fish are Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) and
the Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus).(FAO,2016)

• Their growth potential depends on the production system,

production inputs and environmental factors mainly water quality
(Matter et al, 2004).
18/01/2024 3
 INTRODUCTION CONT.
• Production systems include earthen pond, tanks,
raceways, cages, etc and their characteristics such as
area, depth, volume (Boyd, 1999).
• Production inputs include stock (age and density),
feed (type and frequency) (Boyd, 1999).
• Water quality parameters such as Dissolved Oxygen
(DO), temperature, pH, salinity, TDS, Conductivity,
Ammonia, Phosphate, Nitrate, Turbidity. (Boyd, 2000).

18/01/2024 4
INTRODUCTION
CONT.
• Variation in production systems and inputs can restrain
water quality conditions and consequently fish survival and
growth (Boyd, 2000).

18/01/2024 5
 PROBLEM STATEMENT
• Brong Ahafo region has been reported to have the highest
number of aquaculture ponds in Ghana. (MoFAD,2015).
• Despite the high density of ponds, production is relatively
low (Bolman et al,2015)
• The low productivity has mainly been attributed to feed and
sources of seed (fingerlings) but water quality factors have
been overlooked.
• There is therefore, very limited information on water quality
conditions and how they are affected by different production
systems and inputs.(Ansah,2010)
18/01/2024 6
18/01/2024
Preliminary observations 7
JUSTIFICATION
• Water quality affects pond productivity, however there is
inadequate information on pond aquaculture systems in
Sunyani.

• Proper monitoring of water quality in pond systems is vital to

reducing fish stress, mortality and increasing yield.

• Therefore, there is the need to assess how various pond

systems production inputs affect water quality conditions.
18/01/2024 8
OBJECTIVES
The main objective of this research is;
• To determine patterns of variation in aquaculture production
systems and inputs and how they affect water quality in Sunyani
metropolis.

Specific objectives are;

• To determine patterns of variation in pond characteristics and
production inputs.
• To determine patterns of variation in water quality parameters.
• To determine the relationship between pond characteristics,
production inputs and water quality.
18/01/2024 9
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Study Area
• The study will be carried out on eleven (11) randomly selected ponds
in the Sunyani municipal area.

Methodology
• Sampling will be carried out over a five-month period from October
2017 – February 2018 at monthly intervals.
• Target fish will be O. niloticus and C. Gariepinus
• Newly stocked ponds will be used(Not more than one month).
• The ponds will be distributed as follows; four (4) tilapia, four (4)
catfish and three (3) mixed culture.
18/01/2024 10
MATERIALS AND METHODS CONT.

Pond parameters to be measured include:

 Pond area
 Pond depth
Production input parameters:
Stock density
Stock age
Feed type
Feed frequency
Mortality
18/01/2024 11
 MATERIALS AND METHODS CONT.
Both HANNA multi parameter probe(H19829) and the Hydrotest kit
HT100(TRACE2O) will be used to measure the following water quality parameters:
pH
Salinity
Dissolved oxygen
Temperature
TDS
Conductivity
Total Ammonia(free ammonia/NH3 and ionized ammonia/NH4)
Nitrate
Phosphate
Alkalinity
Hardness
18/01/2024 12
DATA ANALYSIS
• ANOVA to test the significant differences among measured
parameters.
• Multiple regression.

18/01/2024 13
HYPOTHESIS
• Variations in production inputs and production systems will
result in wide variations in water quality.

18/01/2024 14
EXPECETED RESULTS

• At the end of the study ;

• We will understand the patterns of variations in pond characteristics,
production inputs and how they affect water quality.
• The research results will shed light on major and minor water quality
issues of aquaculture in Sunyani.
• We will also understand the source of water quality problems in
Sunyani.
• We will obtain relevant scientific information that can be used by
regulatory agencies like the Fisheries Commission, EPA,GSA,etc for
decision -making , policy and planning.
18/01/2024 15
BUDGET

ITEM PRICE(GHC) TOTAL(GHC)

TRANSPORTATION 1000.00 1000.00
WATER QUALITY 450.00 450.00
ANALYSIS
TECHNICIAN 250.00 250.00
ASSISTANCE
1700.00

18/01/2024 16
 REFERENCES
• Boyd, C.E. (2000) Water quality: an introduction, 70-73
• Boyd, C.E .& Craig, S.T. (1999)Pond Aquaculture Water Quality
Management,20-36
• Bank of Ghana.(2008).The Fishing Subsector and Ghana's Economy
Retrieved from http:// www.bog.gov.gh
• Bas, B.&Seth A.(2015).Opportunities For Aquaculture in Ghana
• Food and agriculture organisation(2016). Fisheries and aquaculture
country profile: The Republic of Ghana.
Retrieved from http://www.fao.org

18/01/2024 17
 REFERENCES
• Food and Agriculture Organization. (2016).State of World Fisheries
and Aquaculture; Food and Agriculture Organisation: Rome, Italy, 209
• Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development.
(2015).Aquaculture yearly report.
Retrieved from http://www.mofad.gov.gh

18/01/2024 18