Kuwait institute cultivates Shim fish in closed ponds for first time
The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research announced a new scientific achievement on Saturday, revealing the successful completion of the cycle of farming Shim fish for the first time in the Middle East. The institute succeeded in producing larvae from Shim fish raised in ponds using a closed system that recycles highly pure water, adhering to precise scientific standards.
The Acting Director General of the Institute, Dr. Faisal Al-Humaidan, stated that this achievement strengthens efforts to ensure local food security and contributes to the advancement of marine farming techniques, further enhancing Kuwait’s reputation in international scientific forums. He added that the success of researchers in obtaining young fish from these mother Shim fish marks a significant leap in the fish farming industry.
The Executive Director of the Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center, Dr. Afef Al-Nasser, explained that the institute is the first research institution in the world to begin developing Shim fish farming technology in 2021. She highlighted that the research team succeeded in producing young Shim fish in May 2024, achieving this milestone just three years after the project’s launch.
The Project Head, Researcher Amani Al-Yaqout, confirmed that the closed system used for breeding and fattening Shim fish with low-salinity water was carried out without the use of reproductive stimulants. She emphasized that this method’s commercial viability enhances food security and helps protect the natural stock of Shim fish from the risk of extinction.
Similarly, the head of the working team, Musaed Al-Rumi, stated that the Integrated Technologies Company for Fish and Shrimp Farming (Salia) supported the first phase of the project by raising the larvae of the Sheem fish.
Dr. Turki Al-Saeed, Director of the Coastal and Marine Resources Program at the Environmental and Life Sciences Research Center, highlighted that the project is funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. He noted that Shim fish has been classified as an endangered species since 2014 due to overfishing and changing environmental conditions in the Arabian Gulf.
In the same statement, fish larvae breeding expert and researcher Salim Al-Daqour described the study of growth development and the determination of the environmental and nutritional requirements of Shim fish as a significant scientific achievement.
Al-Daqour stated that the findings will be documented in peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented at international conferences. He added that this accomplishment will contribute to Kuwait’s record in marine research and support the future of fish farming.
Source: Al Qabas
