Grouper Farming Training Boosts Maldivian Mariculture

The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources has launched its 'Marine Hatchery Skills Development Program' at the Maldives Marine Research Institute facility in K. Maniyafushi, Kaafu Atoll. This initiative, now in its second session this year, brings together 15 participants from various atolls to learn grouper farming and other mariculture techniques. The comprehensive training covers aquaculture systems, live food cultivation, fish biology, breeding methods for species including grouper, sea cucumber, clownfish, and pearl oysters, seaweed cultivation, disease prevention, and environmentally sustainable practices. Running until the end of the month, the program provides full accommodation, meals, and transport support for participants. This effort supports the government's strategy to diversify the economy and create employment opportunities in island communities, aligning with President Dr. Mohamed Muizzu's Hafuthaa 14 roadmap and backed by World Bank funding through the Transforming Fisheries Sector Management project. — Source fragments: