COUNCILLORS want the aquaculture sector in Bahrain to be opened up to local and foreign investment.
The Southern Municipal Council voted to have coastal areas allocated for investors by the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry in a bid to meet high demand for seafood.
The GDN reported in March that the National Mariculture Centre (NMC) in Askar, which operates under the ministry, annually produces 500,000 black seabreams, 200,000 seabreams, and 100,000 of Hamour, Safi and Sheri.
“The government should open the aquaculture business to investors and have the NMC operate as a regulator rather than handling the sector as a provider,” said council chairman Ahmed Al Ansari during the general-secretariat meeting.
“Production numbers announced earlier this year are not much and if analysed per type it just covers around 5 per cent of the daily needs of the market.
“With limited sea spaces there are not enough yields even for fishermen to meet high demand in the market.
“So the country is in shortage of seafood which is being compensated by export from Southeast Asia and Europe, which shouldn’t be the case in the long run.”
Mr Al Ansari said there were sufficient plots of land available under the ministry and even inside the NMC to be offered to local or foreign companies.
“The aquaculture sector is profitable and many Bahrainis would love to open companies in the field, but they have to be given proper locations to set-up their businesses,” he said.
“There are certain types of fish that Bahrainis don’t like to deal with that could be handled by foreign companies for export.
“We don’t see it as a problem for foreign companies to even produce fish in local demand if they have the equipment and capabilities to present something of high quality – in the end those companies will hire Bahrainis.
“We have what it takes to be better than the UAE, which opened up the sector for investment a decade ago.
“There is more than enough space for investments to be successful.”
The GDN reported in February that logistical assistance was being provided to Bahrainis wishing to start fish farming businesses at home.
It was part of the new Home Aquaculture Scheme, spearheaded by the ministry, which aims to help locals set up shop and tackle dwindling fish stocks. The scheme was implemented following successful trials by a group of pensioners in the Muharraq.
The trial phase started in February last year and has grown into legitimate business opportunities for Bahrainis.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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