Latest news with #SustainableEconomicShrimpFarmProject
Arab Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Locally grown shrimp hits Kuwaiti market in food security milestone
KUWAIT CITY, July 10: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced its success for the fourth consecutive year in producing and marketing locally farmed shrimp using advanced, environmentally friendly technologies. This marks a strategic step toward enhancing food security and achieving self-sufficiency, in line with the objectives of the 'New Kuwait 2035' vision. The announcement was made during the 'Shrimp Harvest' event, organized by KISR on Thursday at the Kabd Research and Innovation Station, under the patronage of Acting Director General of KISR Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan. Head of the Sustainable Economic Shrimp Farm Project and Scientist Dr. Shireen Al-Subaie explained that KISR has achieved significant production growth this year. The weight of farmed shrimp reached 20 grams, with average production exceeding two kilograms per square meter, due to closed, intensive farming systems developed to withstand Kuwait's harsh environmental conditions and low-salinity groundwater. This success was made possible through biofl oc technology, which recycles water without the need for antibiotics or chemicals, ensuring a safe and environmentally friendly product. KISR successfully adapted this technology to suit the unique characteristics of Kuwaiti groundwater, despite challenges posed by its unbalanced ionic composition. This year, the project experienced a significant milestone with the introduction of locally farmed shrimp to the Kuwaiti market for the first time. Dr. Al-Subaie described this as an encouraging step for the private sector to help reduce Kuwait's heavy reliance on imported shrimp, which currently accounts for over 70 percent of the country's shrimp consumption. She stressed that these promising results open the door to new investment opportunities and create jobs for Kuwaitis in aquaculture for supporting sustainable development goals and strengthening local food security. Dr. Al-Subaie also revealed that KISR has submitted a proposal to the government to establish an 'economic fish farming complex' at the Ghadi Desert site, spanning 100,000 square meters, with an estimated annual production capacity of 1,200 tons of various fish species including sea bream, grouper, mullet, and shrimp, along with the production of feed and fish products. Al-Seyassah/Arab Times Staff
Arab Times
10-07-2025
- Business
- Arab Times
Kuwait marks fourth consecutive year of local shrimp farming success, boosting food security
KUWAIT CITY, July 10: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced on Thursday the successful production and marketing of locally farmed shrimp for the fourth year in a row, affirming its commitment to strengthening the country's food security and advancing the aquaculture sector in line with the national "New Kuwait 2035" vision. The announcement was made during the "Shrimp Harvest" event held at the Kabd Research and Innovation Station, under the patronage of KISR's Acting Director General, Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan. The event reflects the institute's broader efforts to promote sustainability, self-sufficiency, and innovation in food production. Dr. Shireen Al-Subaie, a scientific researcher at the Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center and head of the Sustainable Economic Shrimp Farm Project, highlighted that this year's achievement marks a key milestone in the commercial-scale development of aquaculture in Kuwait. She noted that farmed shrimp reached an average market weight of 20 grams, with production rates exceeding 2 kilograms per square meter—an impressive yield attributed to extensive scientific research and the application of advanced intensive farming technologies. These techniques have proven effective in overcoming the challenges posed by Kuwait's groundwater conditions and harsh climate. Dr. Al-Subaie emphasized that this year's success also included the first-ever commercial marketing of locally farmed shrimp within Kuwait, a critical step in reducing the country's dependence on shrimp imports, which currently meet more than 70 percent of domestic demand. The shrimp farming was conducted using innovative, eco-friendly biofloc technology, which recycles water continuously without using chemicals or antibiotics, resulting in a safe and environmentally sustainable product. KISR has made significant progress in adapting this complex biofloc system to work with low-salinity groundwater—a scientific challenge not only due to the salinity level but also because of the water's unbalanced ionic composition. This breakthrough opens the door to greater private sector involvement, new investment opportunities, and job creation for national talent, aligning with Kuwait's sustainable development objectives. Looking to the future, Dr. Al-Subaie revealed that KISR has submitted a proposal under the government initiatives program to establish a large-scale "Economic Complex for Fish Farming" at the Bar Ghadi site. The proposed complex would cover an area of 100,000 square meters and produce up to 1,200 tons annually of various species including sea bream, grouper, tilapia, and shrimp. It will also include feed production and fish product manufacturing, offering a strategic leap forward for Kuwait's food security.
