The Ornamental fish farming project is set to diversify and consolidate the fishing sector in Mauritius as the breeding of ornamental fish is a lucrative market that is gaining momentum
The minister of business, enterprise and cooperatives Soomilduth Bholah made this statement during a site visit at the Albion Fisheries Research Centre, where a hatchery has been set up and breeding of ornamental fish is being carried out on an experimental basis.
According to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the overall value of decorative fish exports is estimated at around US$372mn and local cooperative societies can tap into this market.
He recalled that the tropical climate and the availability of several species in Mauritius are conducive for breeding and this activity represents a great opportunity for local cooperatives. In this context, around 29 co-operators and eight officers from the Albion Fisheries Research Centre have received training in this field. These training sessions were conducted by an expert from Taiwan, deputed by the African Asian Rural Development Organisation, from 15-29 September 2018.
Minister Bholah further dwelt on the breeding techniques, the different stages as well as the conditions to be met for the project to be a success.
A working session will be held with the co-operators who have been benefitted from the training. Ornamental fishes will then be handed over to them and they will have to follow the instructions and norms established for the breeding.
