Fiji to explore aquaculture technology

Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama visited Fish Farm LLC which is headquartered in Dubai and incorporated in 2013, with the focus on marine fish breeding and hatchery to support the local aquaculture industry and reduce dependency on foreign imported fish.

During the visit, Chief Executive Bader bin Mubarak, briefed Bainimarama and his accompanying delegation on the strategy of the farm and its future expansion plans, particularly in the area of cold-water fish, which is aimed at reducing imports and securing sustainable supplies to local markets.

The Fish Farm set up three facilities - a caged farming facility in Dibba, a hatchery in Umm al-Quwain and an inland farming facility in Jebel Ali.

The main facility in Jebel Ali, which the Prime Minister visited, can produce around 3,000 metric tons of organic fish per year, including salmon, sea bass, sea bream, and hammour for local consumption.

The Fish Farm in the United Arab Emirates is geographically poised to be one of the world leaders in the fisheries sector.

Prime Minister Bainimarama witnessed first-hand the breeding facilities of the aquaculture-produced marine fish at the Fish Farm.

Recognising the growing market demand for sustainable aquaculture-produced marine fish, the Fish Farm grows and sells high quality, competitively priced, safe and delicious fish using innovative technology, while preserving the environment.

Propagating aquaculture in a semi-controlled surrounding, the Fish Farm, grades, sorts, and prices the fish according to size and sells them to merchants.

Prime Minister Bainimarama was also informed that the Fish Farm ranks number four in the world in terms of producing organic salmon. It is also the only salmon breeding system in the world with full environmental control.

Bainimarama thanked the Fish Farm Chief Executive, Bader bin Mubarak for an informative tour of the Fish Farm adding that Fiji is open to strengthening its aquaculture technological development.

The Prime Minister is in Dubai to officiate as chief guest at Fiji Day at the World Expo and also to attend the Ministerial meeting on Creative Economy.

Meanwhile the Prime Minister also met with the Vice President and the Prime Minister of United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.