Applications have been opened for the first batch of the Basic Mariculture Course, which is scheduled to be conducted this year under the Marine Hatchery Skills Development Programme.
The Ministry of Fisheries stated that the first course of the year, aimed at teaching basic mariculture skills, will be held from 26 April to 8 May, and the opportunity to participate is now open. Interested individuals are requested to complete the designated application form and submit it, along with a copy of their ID card, to the Maldives Marine Research Institute before 14:00 on 15 April 2025. Those who wish to email their forms can send them to info@mmri.gov.mv.
The course is targeted at 15 participants. Therefore, the Ministry noted that if more than 15 applications are received, participants will be selected in the order the forms were submitted. As the 14-day course will be conducted in K. Maniyafushi, participants will also be accommodated in K. Maniyafushi for the duration of the course. The Ministry further stated that the Marine Research Institute will arrange travel between Male' and Maniyafushi, as well as accommodation and meals for the participants.
The Basic Mariculture Course is conducted by the Maldives Marine Research Institute under the Transform Project, which is implemented by the Ministry of Fisheries with assistance from the World Bank. The course aims to develop Maldivian technicians needed to introduce and develop a mariculture industry in the Maldives. It provides information on aquaculture systems, live feed production, breeding of grouper, sea cucumber, Maldivian clownfish, and pearl oysters, identifying and preventing diseases in cultured species, and conducting mariculture activities with minimal environmental impact. In addition, participants will gain practical experience in breeding grouper, sea cucumber, and clownfish.
The Marine Hatchery Skills Development Programme was initiated under President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's "Hafuthaa 14" roadmap. Its objective is to develop mariculture to provide additional income and employment opportunities close to the islands for people living across the Maldives, thereby expanding and diversifying economic activities in the country. So far, 26 individuals have been trained under this programme.
The Ministry of Fisheries is undertaking numerous efforts to establish and develop a mariculture industry in the Maldives. This includes a programme to sell sea cages and live juvenile groupers to individuals interested in mariculture. The arrangement to provide sea cages and live juvenile groupers to private parties is intended to pave the way for mariculture businesses by growing groupers.
As part of the government's efforts to designate mariculture as a specific industry, four zones have been allocated for mariculture development. Additionally, a lagoon located approximately 2 kilometres from Maniyafushi has now been designated for mariculture. To accelerate the advancement of the mariculture industry, the government has also decided to provide numerous concessions to foreign investors operating in the mariculture zones. Furthermore, work is underway to establish a multi-species hatchery in GA. Maanaagalaa with the assistance of Dubai's Aqua Bridge Group.
