September 13, 2007

Malta joins global league in aquaculture research
 

Malta has been invited to participate in a European Union-funded programme called SELFDOTT, following its advances in aquaculture research.
 
The invitation signifies global recognition as the programme involves scientists from seven other countries, said George Pullicino, Malta's Minister for Environment and Rural Affairs.
 

During a visit to the aquaculture centre at Fort San Lucjan, Pullicino said that the progress being made in the field has brought more foreign investment to the country as well as the acknowledgement of Malta as one of the main industry centres in the Mediterranean.

He explained that the SELFDOTT programme -- it is geared towards hatching tuna and runs over three years and for which Malta will receive EUR246,000 -- aims to develop a self-sufficient aquaculture system.

Pullicino stressed the programme is important in view of the efforts to safeguard the Atlantic Bluefin Tuna, a species which is facing extinction.

He said the invitation to participate in the programme is a certification for the excellent work being done by the biologists and workers at Fort San Lucjan. It follows the successful participation in the REPRODOTT programme -- which aimed to develop new techniques for the breeding and domestication of tuna -- and the success in the breeding of amberjack.

Parliamentary Secretary Francis Agius said that the aquaculture industry had developed significantly in the last 17 years and had become an important pillar in the Maltese economy.

He added that until now the industry has been based on the breeding of two species, namely gilthead sea bream ('awrat') and sea bass ('spnott'). He underlined the need to diversify the market. Hence the possibility of breeding amberjack and tuna was being explored.