The Eastern Regional Director of Fisheries Commission, Mr. Francis Barnes, is promoting catfish farming in the Eastern region of Ghana due to its high potential for growth and the health benefits of the fish. The region already contributes 40% to the country's aquaculture production, primarily Tilapia. The Directorate has established a fingerlings production facility to support farmers and has distributed 35,000 catfish fingerlings this year. Catfish is easier to raise and more profitable than Tilapia, and there is a high market demand for it. The Directorate is also planning to introduce a new fish processing technology, the 'Ahoto oven', to replace the traditional smoking method, which has health concerns due to smoke from firewood.