The foundation was laid on Tuesday for the second phase of a multi-species hatchery under development in Gaaf Alif Maanaagala to grow small groupers, sea cucumbers and types of bait fish needed for fishing.
The Maanaagala multi-species hatchery is part of the "Sustainable Fisheries Resource Development Project" launched in 2017 to develop and productively utilize the country's rich marine resources.
The construction of support structures such as accommodation and a powerhouse under the first phase of the project has been completed. The second phase involves the development of infrastructure for the hatchery, including nurseries, laboratories, live feed production facilities and net cages for groupers in the lagoon.
The Maanaagala hatchery project was awarded to Dubai's Aqua Bridge Group on October 27, 2022 under a design, build, finance, operate and transfer model. The island was handed over to the company for a 21-year period, including one year for construction and 20 years for income-generating operations.
Rent for Maanaagala is to be charged after five years, after which it has to be paid at a rate of MVR 0.20 per square foot.
The Aqua Bridge Group company is carrying out the hatchery development in two phases.
The company is aiming to complete work in the first phase and start selling bait to fishers in July next year, a Fisheries Ministry official told Adhadhu. After beginning work on December 12, the company expects to complete the project on schedule within one year, the official said.
Aqua Bridge is one of the most advanced companies in the field with the technical capacity to build hatcheries. Once work on the hatchery is finished, it will be able to grow at least 100 tons of bait fish, one million small groupers and 600,000 sea cucumbers a year.
A multi-species hatchery is being developed in the Maldives for the first time. Expanding the mariculture industry will diversify the country's economy and create jobs and sources of income close to islands for residents of outer atolls, the Fisheries Ministry said.
