The second round of the Basic Mariculture Training Course, conducted under the Marine Hatchery Skills Development Programme by the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources, has concluded successfully at the Maafushi Research and Training Facility.

The training, which began on 18 October, forms part of the Administration’s Hafthaa 14 roadmap initiated under President Dr Mohamed Muizzu, aimed at expanding opportunities in aquaculture and hatchery operations for Maldivian youth.

A total of ten participants from various atolls completed the latest training programme, bringing the total number of graduates from the Basic Mariculture Course to 53. The course provided both theoretical and practical instruction on aquaculture techniques, fish breeding, feed preparation, disease management, and environmentally sustainable mariculture practices. Participants were also introduced to new concepts in seaweed cultivation.

The closing ceremony was attended by Mohamed Suleiman, Regional Hub Manager of the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB). The ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources announced plans to expand the training initiative, increasing the number of annual courses from two to four to build a stronger workforce in the mariculture sector.

Implemented with support from the World Bank-funded Transform Project, in collaboration with the Maldives Marine Research Institute, the Marine Hatchery Skills Development Programme seeks to equip Maldivians with the technical expertise needed to develop a sustainable and self-reliant marine aquaculture industry.