Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture signs an agreement with Aqua Bridge Group to build a multi-species hatchery in Maanaagalaa, Gaafu Alifu Atoll.
The agreement was signed by Planning Executive at the Fisheries Ministry Eenas Nasir and the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aqua Bridge Mohammad Tabish. Aqua Bridge is tasked with designing, building, financing, operating, and maintaining the hatchery. It is being funded by the World Bank under the ministry’s sustainable fisheries resource development project. The hatchery is important in providing a habitat for different species of marine life used for aquaculture. The ministry stated that the infrastructure for the hatchery has already been built in Maanaagalaa.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Hussain Rasheed Hassan said the dwindling fish stock is a major concern for the Maldives and fishing of yellow-fin tuna needs to be reduced by 22%. He also said skip-jack tuna fishing also needs to be reduced or it will have lasting consequences on the fisheries sector. He further said pole and line fishing still has negative impacts if juvenile fish are being caught without any restrictions and that the solution is to artificially recover the population of dwindling fish species.
The hatchery in Maanaagalaa will mainly be producing sea cucumber, groupers, and baitfish. It is expected to be built within 12 months and will be leased for 20 years.