The Ministry of Fisheries and Ocean Resources, in partnership with China's Fujian Fisheries Research Institute, has launched an extensive training programme focused on sea cucumber aquaculture, algae cultivation, fish aquaculture, and the conservation of fish resources. The programme was launched as part of a concerted effort to enhance marine resource management.
The initiative was inaugurated at the request of the Maldivian fisheries ministry, aiming to counter the declining populations of sea cucumbers and groupers in the region's waters. The programme offers in-depth instruction on sea cucumber aquaculture, including the preparation and proper management of their food, according to the ministry.
To lead the training, six experts from the Fujian Fisheries Research Institute have travelled to the Maldives. Over the course of the seven-day programme, held in Maniyafushi, Kaafu Atoll, these experts will share their knowledge with 20 officials from the fisheries ministry, it said. This collaboration marks a significant milestone as the first joint effort between the Maldives' fisheries ministry and a Chinese institution in such a programme.