Fisheries and Livestock Adviser Farida Akhtar has said that the scientific farming of seabass, commonly known as coral fish, is creating new opportunities for Bangladesh’s food security and fish supply system.
She made the remarks on Sunday evening after visiting the modern Green House Mariculture Hatchery located in Kalatali, Cox’s Bazar.
The adviser said it was encouraging to observe that the entire process, from fish breeding to egg production, is being conducted in a highly scientific manner.
She further noted that one of the most promising aspects of this initiative is that seabass farming is not limited to coastal areas such as Cox’s Bazar, but can also be implemented in regions like northern Bangladesh. This would enable increased fish production across different parts of the country and further strengthen the national food supply system.
Farida Akhtar said the government will provide various forms of support to promote mariculture, or marine aquaculture, across the country. However, she emphasized that private sector initiatives will be the primary driving force behind the sector’s expansion. Greater private sector participation, she said, will lead to enhanced technological development, increased employment opportunities, and the assurance of scientific fish production.
She added that such modern and sustainable initiatives will make significant contributions to Bangladesh’s blue economy in the future and help establish a strong foundation for economic growth and food security.
Officials from the Ministry of Fisheries and Livestock, the Department of Fisheries, and other relevant stakeholders were present during the visit.
It is noteworthy that the Green House Mariculture Hatchery in Cox’s Bazar has achieved success for the first time in Bangladesh in the artificial breeding of marine coral fish. This breakthrough has opened up the possibility of cultivating marine coral fish in ponds in the future. The Department of Fisheries has provided full technical and financial support for the research activities related to coral fish fry production.
