North African state to invest in aquaculture

Algeria, in North Africa, is looking to improve its seafood supply chain by investing in new seafood wholesale markets as well as new aquaculture operations.

At a cost of DZD480 million (US$6.6 million), the Algerian government announced that it will build 13 seafood wholesale markets by 2015 and pump millions more into fish farm projects.

The investments will help reorganise the commercialisation circuit, said Algerian Fisheries Minister Smail Milmoun.

Set against the backdrop of rising seafood prices as demand outstrips supplies, Milmoun underlined the government's support for aquaculture. He said that Algeria is authorised to catch 220,000 tonnes of fish annually, providing each inhabitant with about 6 kilogrammes of fish.

However, the population rises each year, while the fishing quota remains the same, he said. Fish farms, he said, could help bridge the supply gap.

According to local media reports, Milmoun has earmarked DZD2.4 billion (US$33.1 million) for fish farm projects.

Working in partnership with Spain and South Korea, Algeria is planning to launch 22 pilot fish farms that raise mussels, oysters and prawns, among other species.

Milmoun said that the state would not disengage itself from supporting investors keen to launch themselves in this new supply line in Algeria.

According to the most recent figures from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Algerian aquaculture production increased year-on-year from 250 tonnes in 1999 to 641 tonnes in 2004, with the exception of 2003 when droughts caused output to drop to 240 tonnes; 90% of the production is freshwater fish such as common carp, Chinese carp and flathead grey mullet.