Dr. Mohammed bin Mubarak Bin Dainah, Minister of Oil and Environment and Special Envoy for Climate Affairs, underscored the Kingdom of Bahrain’s commitment to enhancing national food security through the launch of strategic initiatives aimed at developing and sustaining marine resources, enriching fish stocks, and increasing production in territorial waters.

This came during the launch event of the fish release season in Bahrain’s territorial waters, organised by the Supreme Council for Environment (SCE), in the presence of Amna Hamad Al Rumaihi, Chief Executive Officer of the Council, and Mohammed Yousif Al Asam, Director General of Marine Resources at SCE. The plan includes the release of approximately 100,000 juvenile fish according to a scheduled programme to be implemented throughout the year.

During the event, the minister commended the efforts of the National Mariculture Centre team across all production stages, leading to the first release phase, which was carried out with high precision and professionalism. He noted that the release was conducted in three phases at carefully selected marine sites, in accordance with scientific standards ensuring suitable conditions for fish growth, feeding, and protection from predators.

Dr. Bin Dainah noted that all necessary technical and environmental measures were taken to ensure the quality and health of the fish and the success of the release process, including the use of boats equipped with air pumps and oxygen cylinders to safely transport the juvenile fish from the center to the designated release sites.

The National Mariculture Centre continues to regularly produce fish fingerlings suitable for release into the sea, as well as species in demand in the local market, while providing optimal conditions throughout their growth stages. These efforts aim to reduce pressure on natural fisheries, increase fish stocks, and support sustainable development goals.

The centre has achieved several milestones, including the first production of Meid fish in the Gulf region in 2023, followed by Bayah fish in 2024, and Shaam fish in 2025, strengthening Bahrain’s efforts to ease pressure on natural fish stocks through regular release programmes in its territorial waters.