Fisheries Ministry has revealed that a hatchery to breed and raise groupers and sea cucumbers is being established in Maanaagalaa island of Gaaf Alif atoll.
Speaking at the 'Jazeera Holhuashi' meeting held at Gaaf Dhaal Thinadhoo on Friday night, Minister Zahaa Waheed said the hatchery is being established as a World Bank project.
"We are developing Maanaagalaa for aquaculture purposes. We are also in the works of establishing a training center in K. Maniyafushi. We will be breeding small organisms to cultivate its lagoon populations", said Zahaa.
The Minister revealed that the hatchery will farm groupers as its main task.
"Groupers carry a good price in the international market. The farming of sea cucumbers will also take place [at the hatchery]", said the Minister.
The previous government also made attempts at farming groupers and sea cucumbers, including attempts to farm groupers off Maniyafushi island. While similar projects were carried out in Bodumohira island of Vaavu atoll, none of the attempts had been successful.
The previous government made attempts at farming groupers and sea cucumbers off Maniyafushi island - Photo: Fisheries Ministry
