Fisherie Minister inaugurates production units, announces financial support to relaunch aquaculture sector in Skikda
By: hana Saada
ALGIERS – The Minister of Fisheries and Fishery Products, Hicham Sofiane Salaouatchi, paid, Thursday, a visit to the eastern province of Skikda where he inaugurated production and processing units, and announced financial support and numerous measures and decisions in favor of the sector in the province.
The minister inaugurated an aquaculture farm with a production capacity of 700 tonnes/year of bream raised in 8 floating cages made by a private investor. “The production takes place for two cycles per year,” indicated the Minister, stressing that fattening lasts 14 months to reach weight from 300 to 400 grams.
Mr. Salaouatchi also inaugurated a tuna and sardine transformation and packaging unit, of a daily production capacity of 14 tonnes.
“This unit is able to supply the market with sufficient quantities and stabilize prices. it also created up to 275 jobs,” further noted the Minister.
In a related context, the Minister inspected the Experimental Shrimp farming station located in the municipality of El Marsa. “This is an establishment under the National Center for the Research and Development of Fisheries and Aquaculture, aimed at switching from the experimental stage to effective production and breeding of the shrimp.
On the sidelines of this ministerial visit, two shrimp production projects were presented to the Minister. These two projects were approved by the province’s commission responsible for aquaculture investments in the aquaculture area of Remila, in the commune of El Marsa.
The visit of Mr. Salaouatchi in the province of Skikda was marked by the signing of an agreement between the Directorate of Fisheries and Aquaculture and the University of August 20, 1955 of Skikda, aimed at integrating scientific research into the fishing sector and fishery resources.
A financial envelope of 267 million DA was allocated during this ministerial visit, for the realization of several projects in the province in the field of fishing and aquaculture, in particular the revival of the experimental farm of shrimp breeding in El Marsa (east of Skikda), the study and the realization of an anchoring quay in Remila and a fishing project in Stora, in addition to the ‘development of the Collo Fishing School.
Mr. Salaouatchi also announced during this visit, measures aimed at making available to consumers, fishery products during the month of Ramadan, at affordable prices, by opting for the direct sale of the red tilapia and sea bream from the producer to the consumer, by virtue of an agreement inked between the Algerian Chamber of Fisheries and Aquaculture, and several transformation units across the country, as part of the government program for the month of Ramadan.
The visit of the Minister constituted an opportunity for professionals to meet Mr. Salaouatchi and discuss a range of issues related to the sector.
It is worth mentioning that in line with the program drawn for the holy month of Ramadan, 27 points of sale have been dedicated for the sale of aquaculture products at competitive prices in the wilaya of Algiers, under the slogan “Directly from producer to consumer”, as stated by the Director of Fisheries and Aquaculture of the Wilaya of Algiers, Atouf Kadour.
“This operation, supervised by the Chamber of Fisheries and Aquaculture, began with the opening of special points for the sale of aquaculture products, such as; red tilapia and sea bream, with the aim to protect the purchasing power of the Algerians,” he specified.
“The price of a kilogram of red tilapia is 550 DA, that of sea bream does not exceed 1,090 DA, while the small size stands for 990 DA”, he underlined.
