LOGISTICAL assistance will now be provided to Bahrainis wishing to start fish farming businesses at home.
It is part of the new Home Aquaculture Scheme – under the Works, Municipalities Affairs and Urban Planning Ministry – which aims to help locals set up shop and tackle dwindling fish stocks.
Those interested in the field can visit the ministry’s agriculture sector in Budaiya from today onwards.
The scheme is being implemented following successful trials by a group of pensioners in the Muharraq Governorate, said the ministry’s assistant under-secretary for fisheries resources Abdulla Abdullatif.
“Aquaculture projects at homes are profitable and at the same time allow more stock in the local market, if conducted and operated properly,” said Mr Abdullatif, who is also acting Muharraq Municipality director general.
“There have been successful trial projects across Bahrain, but the most efficient were those done by pensioners in the Muharraq Governorate over the past year.
“We are not just concerned about stock, we are looking for good quality fish that could be marketable among hotels and restaurants besides ornamental fish.
“Any Bahraini interested in operating an aquaculture business at home can visit us (from today) and we will provide them with all technological and technical assistance they need to ensure they fulfil proper standards and do things in line with quality assurance.”
The trial phase started in February last year and has grown into legitimate business opportunities for Bahrainis, said Muharraq Municipal Council chairman Mohammed Al Sinan.
“It is still early to determine if proper businesses are on the right track for young Bahrainis, but tapping into the potential productivity and positivity will certainly produce profitability and that requires marketing,” he said.
“We had 10 pensioners just a year ago and now the number has quadrupled.
“Fish is disappearing with reclamation and large numbers of fishermen in the profession and I think that aquaculture is the future and it could take up half of the traditional market as stocks fail to replenish due to excessiveness.”
The ministry runs the government’s fish farm in Askar with four investors stepping in to take available spaces, the GDN previously reported.
mohammed@gdn.com.bh
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