Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi and other officials at the Aquatic Research Centre in Ras Matbakh.
The Minister of Municipality and Environment H E Mohamed bin Abdullah Al Rumaihi yesterday visited the Aquatic Research Centre in Ras Matbakh. The Minister was accompanied by senior officials of the Ministry, Ashghal, and a member from the Central Municipal Council (CMC).
Al Rumaihi toured the project and gave his instructions for completion of the remaining phases of the project, and experimental work in the project will start after the first quarter of next year.
According to officials, 86 percent of project has been completed so far. The Research Centre consists of two floors and includes laboratories to estimate the age of the fish and analyse fish feed ingredients etc.
The centre is also equipped with electric generators, and includes 28 administrative offices, two meeting halls, a hall for lectures, a library, and cafeteria, among others.
The facilities related to fish farming and shrimp include a station for pumping marine water.
The project can increase its capacity production to produce 10m small fish in one year.
The project also has some extra space that can be used later to increase its capacity.
The project costs QR230m, and is established on 110,000 square meters.
The type of fish which will be produced is local fish. The aim of the project is to conduct studies and researches in order to offer a suitable environment for breeding fish for achieving food security and to meet self-sufficiency in fish, in addition to protecting natural resources and the marine environment.
The world now depends on farms for 60 percent of its fish needs because of the challenges faced in the sea, and because of a decrease in production and higher demand.
