Qatar’s Ministry of Economy and Commerce (MEC) in collaboration with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment plans to launch an initiative that involves the establishment of four fish farming and aquaculture projects, said a report.

This comes as part of initiatives undertaken by the technical committee for the Promotion of Private Sector Engagement at the MEC to boost self-sufficiency in sectors related to food security in the country, added the Gulf Times report.

The initiative will contribute to creating a continuous balance throughout the year between supply and demand and reduce the local price of fish during inappropriate climate.

The total production capacity of the four projects will be “no less than 7,000 tonnes per year” of fish and aquatic organisms, it added.

The initiative includes the implementation of three projects for fish farming in floating cages along three northern marine sites, with each project covering an area of 90 hectares.

They will each have a production capacity of “not less than 2,000 tonnes per year” and are to reach their maximum production capacity within 36 months, according to the ministry.

The fourth project for fish farming and aquaculture will be implemented along the coastal site of El Arish, covering an area of 111 hectares and with a production capacity of “not less than 1,000 tonnes per year”.

 The project will reach its maximum production capacity within 42 months, added the report.