KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN

                                                                                                          National Mariculture Center  (NaMaC)
Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife
General Directorate for the Protection of Marine Resources
Directorate of Marine Resources
PO box 20071
Manama
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
Tel: (+973) 1784 3000
Fax: (+973) 1784 0294

Name of Focal point
Abdulredha J. Shams
Director
Directorate of Marine Resources
P.O. Box 20071
Manama
KINGDOM OF BAHRAIN
Tel: (+973) 1784 3000
Fax: (+973) 1784 0294
Email: ajshams@batelco.com.bh

Location
NaMaC is located about 35 km form the airport on the Eastern coast of the Bahrain between the villages of Askar and Jaw. From the airport take the causeway to Manama, and head towards Sitra causeway and then to Askar village past the Bahrain Aluminium Plant.

Overview
One of the main objectives of Mariculture is to strengthen the food security of the country and provide a suitable protein source for consumption. With this in mind the Directorate of Fisheries & Marine Resources began a feasibility study jointly with the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations as a result of which work began on establishing a National Mariculture Center at Ras Hayan area in 1982. Some of the main objectives of the Center are:

  • To create the scientific and technical base for the development of mariculture operations in Bahrain
  • To conduct appropriate scientific research projects and developmental programs on mariculture of living marine resources
  • To develop suitable culture systems for the conducive environmental conditions of the Kingdom.
  • To assist and encourage private sector investments in commercial/industrial fish farming and similar activities in the country.
  • To mass produce seeds of suitable and commercially important species for the fish farming sector.
  • To grow fingerlings to market size fish in the suitable culture systems for the local and international markets.
  • To train national staff in aquaculture technology.
  • To assist stock enhancement programs through the mass production of seeds/fry/fingerlings to protect the local endangered marine resources.

To fulfill the above objectives a series of biological studies were done on various fish species to determine their suitability for aquaculture. Some of these studies dealt with lengths/weights relationships, age determination, maturation, spawning seasons and food and feeding habits. Based on these studies it was possible to select some suitable candidates for culture.
Staff
The National Mariculture Center is managed and operated by a cadre of technical national staff comprising one PhD, one M.Sc., and one B.Sc degree holders. Supported by seventeen specialized technicians  and eight support services staff.
Facilities
The National Mariculture Center has the following facilities:

  • Laboratories; Offices: Stores; Meeting room, Staff Quarters etc
  • A large concrete tank system indoor hatchery unit that includes 22 concrete tanks of capacities ranging from 8-50 m3 used for larval rearing
  • Outdoor concrete tank system hatchery unit that includes 21 concrete tanks with capacities ranging from 30 to 120 m3 used for spawning and nursery operations.
  • A fiberglass tank hatchery consisting of 30 conical tanks of 30 m3 each, supplied with chilled and sterilized sea water. With an attached 36 m2 algae mass culture area
  • Microorganism production with an indoor facility of 99m2 containing 4x6 m3 conical fiberglass tanks for continuous batch method rotifer production, and a 66 m2 controlled temperature laboratory for high density algae production
  • An outdoor microorganism mass production area measuring 430 m2 enclosing 18 rectangular fiberglass tanks with volumes ranging from 6-14 m3. a total volume of  160 m3
  • Feed nutrition unit with a laboratory fully equipped for proximate analysis and a feed preparation area with necessary equipments
  • Green house area of 480 m2
  • Twelve rectangular concrete tanks for nursery and grow-out operations with volumes ranging from 300-600 m3. A total volume of 4800 m3
  • One 600 m2 PVC lined earthen pond
  • A 3.5 hectare lagoon which acts as a water source and for other purposes
  • 600 m3 per hour sea water supply system.
  • Two wells with a pumping capacity of 90 and 40 m3 per hour and a temperature range of 22-26 °C
  • 1200 m3 per hour main drain canal
  • A fully equipped meeting room