BISKRA- The Minister of Fisheries and Fish Production, Hichem Sofiane Salaouatchi, stressed Tuesday in the wilaya of Biskra on “the necessary reproduction of successful experiences in aquaculture in order to increase production capacities”.
During a press briefing during his visit to a new farm of the Cosider group for breeding red tilapia in the commune of Loutaya (30 km north of Biskra), the Minister affirmed that his department ensures the support for the emergence of aquaculture centers across the country and the generalization of successful experiences in this field.
He also indicated that it is necessary to support the farms of young investors producing between 5 and 10 tons per year to increase their production.
The Minister, who was accompanied by several investors, pointed out that there are large companies capable of launching huge fish farming projects with a capacity of 100 tonnes per year, including the subsidiary of Cosider, which has produced a large production of tilapia in the two wilayas. of Khenchela and Biskra.
He also noted that the existence of spaces for marketing the fish produced encourages the expansion of these investments, considering that “the control of the various links in the production chain, in particular the production of fish feed, is a matter of food sovereignty and consolidates national food security”.
The Minister added that the strengthening of productive capacities also concerned the breeding of sea bream now practiced in nine wilayas including Skikda which hosted the most recent project, considering that these are successful experiences from which much is expected, particularly with the mastery by national research centers of farming techniques for this fish, inviting investors and economic operators to bring more to the sector.
Mr. Salaouatchi also visited the site of a new experiment in the production of microscopic algae (spirulina) in a private pilot farm in Loutaya which deserves encouragement, he said, affirming the importance of working with pharmaceutical laboratories to increase production.
The Minister also inspected several fish farming projects and fry production and fattening ponds in the two communes of Loutaya and Sidi Okba.
