Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture has inaugurated a pilot project to breed groupers as part of the Sustainable Fisheries Resources Development Project. The pilot project was launched in 4 islands of Alifu Dhaalu Atoll.
Speaking at the special function at Mahibadhoo to inaugurate the pilot project, Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture Zaha Waheed said the aim is to establish 200 cages across the country to breed groupers. It is estimated each cage can breed 500 groupers at a time.
This is first time a pilot project has been launched in Maldives to see whether breeding and the sale of groupers can bring a sufficient income to locals. As part of the pilot project, the ministry provided equipment and technical assitance for 20 individuals to breed groupers in Mahibadhoo, Dhangethi, Omadhoo and Dhigurah.
The pilot project, worth USD 18 million, was launched by the fisheries ministry with financial assitance from the World Bank. The ministry disbursed the finances for the individuals under an agreement to conduct the pilot project.
The pilot project will be supervised by Marine Research Institute, run under the fisheries ministry.