Doha: Aquatic Research Center at Ras Matbakh released 5.5 million fingerlings of fish in the sea during past three years to increase the strategic fish reserve in Qatari water.
The center run by the Ministry of Municipality is producing fingerlings of local fish for releasing in Qatari water and providing to fish farms for fattening.
“The fingerlings of Hamour and Sha’m fish weighing from 15gm to 20gm were released at different places across the coastal area of the country,” said Director of Aquatic Research Center, Ibrahim Salman Al Muhannadi.
Speaking to Qatar Radio recently, he said that the center is producing fingerlings of local commercial fish species like Hamour, Safi, Al Sha’m, Al Subaiti.
“We plan to add European sea bream and red snapper which is locally called ‘Al Shaqra’ in the basket of our fingerling production in the coming breeding season in June and July. Mother fish of new species will be brought,” said Al Muhannadi.
He said that the capacity of Aquatic Research Center has reached 10 million fingerlings of local fish and 20 million larvae of shrimp in a year.
“Now we need more fish farms for fattening them. At present there are three farms in the country. A fish farm on floating cage in the sea is operating with the capacity of 2,000 tonnes fish in a year,” said Al Muhannadi.
He said that there is a shrimp farm with the capacity of 300 tonnes in a year and the third farm will start operation this year or by the next year with the capacity of 1,000 tonnes a year.
“The main purpose of the center is to conduct research on sea fish in coordination with Qatar University. The center has nine research laboratories. It has two hatcheries for fish and prawn,” said Al Muhannadi.
Following the directives of Fish Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality, he said, the center is producing fingerlings of the targeted fish.
He said more fish farms, especially those close to the sea, are needed for fattening the fingerlings which are being produced at the center.
Speaking about the research works, he said that the center launched a number of research projects such as localising shrimp from salty sea water to fresh water, using local fodders and those related to fattening fish fast.
Qatar’s self-sufficiency in fish production was recorded at 77 percent. The target is to increase the production to 95 percent. The first fish farming project is operating with a capacity of 2,000 tonnes of fish in a year.
Two more projects are in the pipeline which will be implemented after the success of the first project.
The total production of three projects will be 6,000 tonnes a year. As many as 15,000 tonnes of fish are being produced from sea.
