By Faten Omar

KUWAIT: Rising volatility in the global food system is causing a breakdown in a system that's already fragile. Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) has managed to farm whiteleg shrimp as an important step to boost food production, availability and sustainability. Speaking to Kuwait Times, Dr Sherine Al-Subaei, scientific researcher and head of the project at the institute's Center for Environmental and Life Sciences, explained KISR's project and how it succeeded in harvesting shrimp farmed in Wafra and Abdaly. It also aims to farm fish in desert areas and improve aquaculture operations.

Dr Sherine Al-Subaei

Kuwait Times: Tell us more about commercially farmed shrimp.

Subaei: The hydroponics projects started in the seventies in Kuwait, but farming in low salinity water started seven years ago. We started to think about modern technology that would be sustainable and can be used in low salinity water to be adapted at the Wafra and Abdaly farms. Previously, our focus was on local shrimp, but now we are working on farming non-local shrimp because of their advantages, such as the rapid growth, resistance to diseases and extensive farming, factors more qualified to be used for scientific research. This type of shrimp is also suitable to be farmed in the private sector.

KT: When did you start the project? How has it developed since then?

Subaei: The project started in 2015. It began as part of a search for modern methods of shrimp farming in the Kuwaiti environment. In 2019, we finished building the shrimp farm in Kabd. It started operating after the COVID-19 pandemic. Even during the pandemic, we continued to bring groundwater from Kabd and were working on continuous experiments to collect information and make the operating time easier and ready to reach a higher level. Regarding the farm, survival rates never exceeded 15 percent, but have now reached 56 percent. At the Kabd farm, it has reached 89 percent and 70 percent in the outer lake.

KT: What quantities are produced?

Subaei: We produce around 1,500 kilos.

KT: How will the project contribute to the food security system in Kuwait?

Subaei: As a research institute, we are working on developing technologies so that the private sector is ready to implement and apply them to contribute to food security. The technology is ready and any company in the private sector can apply it, and within a year, the Kuwaiti local market can get its needed output. The experimental model shrimp farm has reached a commercial production level. We are still in the process of selling the produced shrimp, but the private sector is the main specialized targeted sector for selling and producing. We are in the process of signing agreements on joint projects with some major companies in Kuwait.

KT: How long does it take to farm shrimp to reach the required size?

Subaei: In general, the harvest takes place after four months, and in low salinity water after three months - it depends on the weight. The required size is when the shrimp reaches 16 gm, but for farming in seawater, we can reach greater weights in 4-5 months, as the size of shrimp can reach 25 -30 gm with the same quality.

KUWAIT: The team behind the KISR project with Dr Sherine Al-Subaei.

KT: What is the difference between wild and farmed shrimp?

Subaei: The difference is only in color due to the species, as the farmed species is darker than regular ones, but the nutritional quality and even the taste is the same.

KT: How much does it cost?

Subaei: The cost of producing a kilo of shrimp is between KD 1 to KD 1.5. If there is a local hatchery for shrimp larvae, the costs will be lower.

KT: Will the shrimp farm contribute to obtaining suitable stocks to meet the large demand for shrimp products in the local markets?

Subaei: Kuwait imports more than 2,000 tons of shrimp. If there is one large commercial farm, it will produce 2,000 tons easily. Even if there are 20 farms with an average production of 100 tons, the local market's needs will be met. The land on which shrimp farms are built must be allocated, in order to meet the country's need for production. Also, there should be laws and regulations governing this sector and technology must be adopted by the private sector.

If there is a desire from the government, within two years, the local needs will be met. For now, our priority is the Kuwaiti market, as 70 percent of shrimp is imported. Later, we may start exporting the farmed shrimp to other countries.

KT: What is your next plan?

Subaei: Our next plan will be on two levels. First, we will work on more research to reduce costs and increase production, using lower-priced feed while maintaining the same quality. On the large investment level, we have a fish project on the coast for major companies, with important operational facilities like a main hatchery for the production of shrimp larvae, a hatchery for fish (hamour, sheam and subaiti), a feed factory and units for the production of shrimp and fish. This project is a demo on an area of ??80,000 square meters, as a model for large companies.