Aquaculture to Boost Growth

It is precisely in this context that the Board of Investment (BOI) in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries, Mauritius Oceanography Institute (MOI) and the Mauritius Research Council (MRC) has launched a call for expressions of interest (AMI) on the development of aquaculture in Mauritius. Value date, 22 sites, the majority located on the east coast have been identified for aquaculture projects.

To ensure the flight of the industry, the government has revised downwards the fees taxable investors concession, currently amounting to Rs 1.2 million for circular sites within 300 m.

Amendments will also be made to the legal framework in place to provision new sites. The list of species established, including eight species, will also be extended if the need arises. "Other high value species May Also be Proposed and Will Be Considered by the Mauritian Authorities under. Integrated projects-combining a variety of species on the same website can be Considered aussi ", mentions the document AMI.

Towards the production of 39,000 tonnes of fish

A study by the Ministry of Fisheries confirmed that Mauritius has the potential to develop a commercial aquaculture, the annual production is more than 29 000 tonnes of fish. In the long term, annual production is expected to reach 39,000 tons. Another positive element, the preferential access enjoyed by Mauritius for 'seafood products' on the market of the European Union and the United States. This respectively under the Economic-EPA Partnership and the 'African Growth and Opportunity Act "(AGOA).

The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) also recognizes the potential of aquaculture "may help improve food and nutrition security, reduce poverty, generate economic growth and better use of resources. " According to FAO, aquaculture remains the food production sector, which is growing fastest, representing at present nearly 50 percent of food fish in the world. "Employment in the primary sector of fisheries and aquaculture (about 55 million people) has continued to grow faster than in the agricultural sector. Overall, the sector contributes to the livelihoods of ten to twelve percent of the world population, "says the organization whose mandate is to raise levels of nutrition, improve agricultural productivity and the quality of life of rural populations and contribute the global economy.

The sites identified

Identified for the development of aquaculture sites are: Les Salines, Tamarin, AFRC, Ville Valio, Pointe Oscorne, Le Val, La Ferme, Le Morne, Bambous, South West Olive Bank, North East Pineapple Bank, Horseshoe Bay, South Horseshoe Bank, West Marianne Island, North East Jonchée Bank, East Bambou Point (1), East Bambou Point (2), West Reef Point, South Diamond Reef, South Big Pass Point, West Flammand Island.