Second phase of the sea cucumber breeding project under the mariculturue enterprises development project has been inaugurated in Laamu Atoll.
Fisheries Ministry and International Fund for Agricultural Development are jointly conducting the program to develop a mariculture industry in Maldives. The project is a 5-year long project. To launch second phase of the project at Laamu Atoll, sea cucumbers were released to hatcheries made in the sea.
Under the project, hatcheries will be developed and individuals will be trained to grow sea cucumbers so that it will benefit the economy of Maldives. In August 2016, 30 people were trained to grow sea cucumbers and were provided with hatcheries. On 9th October 2016, small sea cucumbers were released into the hatcheries. In that ceremony, Fisheries minister Dr.Shainee opened opportunities for 70 more people to join this program.
The work of 70 hatcheries has now been finished. With the second phase that was inaugurated today, the market size can be increased. Under this project, interested parties will be provided with hatcheries and sea cucumbers as soft loans. Small cucumbers and training are given by Barakathul Bahr Private Limited a company that widely conducts sea cucumber breeding projects in Maldives.
This is part of the government’s effort to diversify economy and empower communities by creating more economic activities.