Doha: Qatar produced 15,087 tonnes of fish in 2020, achieving 66.7 percent self-sufficiency in fresh fish production thanks to the food security programme.
The local fish production is valued at over QR193m, said Agricultural Affairs Department at the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) in an annual report on local fish production in 2020.
The main local fish species include Shahri, Kingfish, Safi, Hamour and Jash. Shahri contributed 20 percent of total production at 3,087 tonnes, followed by Kingfish at 17 percent or 2,506 tonnes. Safe and Hamour contributed 6 percent each or 928 tonnes and 863 tonnes respectively. The production of Jash fish reached 549 tonnes last year, 4 percent of total production. Other species accounted 47 percent with 7,150 tonnes.
The highest quantity of fish was hunted in March and April with 1,741 tonnes and 1,714 tonnes respectively. The lowest catch of 846 tonnes and 951 tonnes was recorded in September and August respectively.
The highest quantity of fish 7,698 tonnes were hunted by traps followed by speedboats 3,270 tonnes. The special boats for kingfish hunted 3,703 tonnes and other gears helped in hunting 645 tonnes of fish.
Al Khor Port has 248 boats, 142 tarad (cruisers) and 1,837 sailors. Doha Jetty has 21 boats, 389 tarad (cruisers) and 910 sailors. Al Wakra Port has 149 boats, 72 tarad (cruisers) and 1,201 sailors. Ruwais Port has 39 boats, 62 tarad (cruisers) and 382 sailors. There are a total of 457 boats, 665 tarad (cruisers) and 4,330 sailors in the country.
The growing production of local fish is a remarkable achievement by the Ministry of Municipality and Environment (MME) which exerted great efforts to increase the fresh fish to a sufficient level by 2023.
To increase production, the Fish Affairs Department at MME focused on two strategies — releasing baby fish in Qatari water to protect the strategic reserve of fish in the sea and to help implement fish farming projects on floating cages.
The baby fish was produced in the Aquatic Research Canter of MME at Ras Matbakh under the project which aims to increase strategic stock of local fish species with economic value. The ambitious programme helps the Fish Affairs Department at MME in implementing the project of releasing larvae of local fish in high demand to ensure food security in the country.
