Cuba works to increase aquaculture production

HAVANA, Cuba, Sep 11 (ACN) Cuba is developing a program aimed at increasing aquaculture production, limited by the lack of resources and the deterioration of facilities, national media reported Wednesday.

It is necessary to rescue the aquaculture infrastructure, damaged for years due to difficulties in financial provision and the tight blockade imposed by the United States, Jesus Rodriguez, director of this branch of the Food Industry Business Group, said.
According to the director, it is also expected to incorporate new intensive cultivation technology systems with water recirculation, which save between 80 and 90 percent of the liquid in comparison with the traditional ones currently used.
Cuban aquaculture focuses mainly on intensive crops and genetic improvement of species, in order to increase fish production and contribute to food security.
The country has been producing about 24,000 tons of fish in this way in recent years, including silver carp (tench), claria and tilapia, the two latter species using intensive farming, Rodriguez pointed out.
He also mentioned the development of freshwater lobster farming and elver fishing (it is called that way in the juvenile phase and eel as an adult).
We are currently looking for a foreign partner to develop a fattening project for this species, because it is an expensive technology which requires specialized feed, Rodriguez commented regarding the eel farming plans.
Aquaculture in Cuba has 26 stations to produce carp fry, claria, tilapia and other species developed in the field; and the recent Fishing Law will order and regulate all activity and increase aquaculture production, which in 2030 should double the current one, the executive concluded.