February 14, 2011
AndalucÃa's aquaculture company gets millions in financial help
AndalucÃa's aquaculture company Mariscos de Estero will obtain financial aid of almost EUR3.5 million (US$4.74 million), revealed the head of the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries of the Junta de AndalucÃa, Clara Aguilera.
The announcement was made during a visit to their facilities located in the Natural Park Marshes of Isla Cristina (Huelva).
The company devoted to breeding, pre-fattening and fattening of croakers, sea bream, sea bass and shrimp will receive this multi-million dollar grant to improve its profitability.
With this aid, Mariscos de Estero will carry out a project to improve hydraulic, environmental and productive aspects at their Tambujal marine farm.
They may also reduce the number of tanks to better harness the tidal flow, reducing energy consumption and dependence on pumping.
In 2009, the aquaculture farm belonging to this company produced 68.5 million fry, adding to the 4.5 million individuals which were developed in their pre-fattening phase in the nursery, of which 3.35 million were sold for fattening.
The Minister of Fisheries stressed the pioneering nature of Mariscos de Estero in cultivating the first sea bream and sea bass in the region.
In addition, Aguilera was pleased by the recent agreement reached by the main aquaculture companies in Andalusia to create a unique selling platform.
Meanwhile, she said that at the next European Seafood Exposition, which will be held in Brussels during May, the Ministry of Fisheries will "especially promote aquaculture in Andalusia" and specifically the label 'Pescado de Estero', in order to support "the great potential of an increasingly important sector in the regional economy."
