Sea cucumber cultivation project inaugurated in Isdhoo

A sea cucumber cultivation project by Mariculture Enterprises Development Project has been launched in the island of L. Isdhoo.

The sea cucumber cultivation project is a five-year project by International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) and Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture to establish and develop a mariculture industry in Maldives.

The sea cucumber cultivation project in Isdhoo was inaugurated last Wednesday.

Citizens of Isdhoo who newly joined the project were handed over their loan grant letter personally by Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture, Dr. Mohamed Shainee during the inauguration.

30 people were trained on sea cucumber cultivation and given cages needed for sea cucumber cultivation in August, 2016 as part of a test-run on the project in L. Kalaidhoo and

L. Dhanbidhoo. They received small cucumbers for cultivation in October.

Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture reports that during the inauguration of the project in Isdhoo, Minister Shainee announced the opportunity for 70 more people from both Kalaidhoo and Dhanbidhoo to participate in the project. The deal also includes 50 cages to cultivate the sea cucumbers in.

Meanwhile, the 70 new cages built as Phase II of the project are complete, and sea cucumbers are being released into the cages, reports Ministry of Fisheries and Agriculture.

Those interested in the sea cucumber cultivation project in Isdhoo are given small loans to

build cages and for sea cucumbers, and they are provided training in sea cucumber cultivation.

The small sea cucumber and the training for the project in L. Atoll are provided by Barakatul Bakhur Private Limited – well-established in the sea cucumber business in Maldives.

The project includes plans for a nursery to cultivate sea cucumbers in L. Atoll.