The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has inaugurated the country's first advanced marine hatchery at its Marine Research Station in Salmiya. The new facility aims to bolster research, aquaculture development, and contribute to Kuwait’s food security efforts.

KISR Director General Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan detailed that the hatchery incorporates a comprehensive range of operations, including broodstock care, egg production, live-feed cultivation, nursery management, and fingerling production. The facility is also equipped with quarantine measures and seawater treatment systems to support healthy marine stock development.

Dr. Al-Humaidan highlighted the current reliance on imports for seafood in Kuwait, noting that local sources fulfill only about 30 percent of the country’s fish consumption. The establishment of the hatchery is expected to enhance domestic fish production, reducing dependency on external suppliers.

In addition to strengthening food security, the hatchery is designed to foster investment opportunities and promote technology transfer between the research sector and private industry. This initiative aims to translate scientific research into commercially viable applications, supporting economic diversification and growth in the aquaculture sector.

Dr. Al-Humaidan acknowledged the contributions of KISR’s researchers, technicians, and engineers in completing the project and bringing it into operation, emphasizing the collaborative effort behind the facility’s launch.

The advanced marine hatchery represents a significant step forward in Kuwait’s pursuit of sustainable aquaculture practices and developing self-sufficiency in marine food resources.