First Basic Mariculture Course of the Year Begins with 10 Participants

The first basic mariculture course under the "Marine Hatchery Skills Development Programme" has commenced.

Ten participants from various atolls of the Maldives joined the course, which began at the K. Maniyafushi Research and Training Facility. The Ministry of Fisheries stated that the course, which includes practical experience and started on the 24th of this month, will continue until February 5.

The "Marine Hatchery Skills Development Programme" is a training initiative launched under the Week 14 roadmap of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's administration. It aims to teach youth aquaculture skills and how to establish hatcheries needed for breeding reef fish. Under the guidance of President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu, the number of basic mariculture training courses has been increased from two to four courses per year. So far, 64 participants have completed training in the basic mariculture course under this programme.

Conducted jointly by the Maldives Marine Research Institute and the Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources with assistance from the World Bank's Transforming Fisheries Sector Management in South-West Indian Ocean Region and Maldives Project (TRANSFORM), this programme will build the Maldivian technicians needed to introduce and develop a mariculture industry in the Maldives. In this regard, participants will be provided with information on aquaculture systems, live feed production, breeding grouper, sea cucumber, Maldivian clownfish, and pearl oysters, identifying and preventing diseases in cultured species, and conducting mariculture activities with minimal environmental impact. Additionally, participants will gain practical experience in breeding grouper, sea cucumber, and clownfish. Furthermore, theory classes for seaweed culture have now begun.