BURAIDAH: New technology and a national commitment to enhancing food security and supporting agriculture under Saudi Vision 2030 have helped the fish farming sector in Qassim to achieve huge growth in recent years.
Because of its desert climate and limited water resources, farmers in the region raise their fish — tilapia and catfish are among the most common species — in large concrete and earthenware tanks. These are equipped with advanced water quality management and feeding control systems which increase production efficiency and boost operational sustainability.
One of the key developments is the use of recirculating aquaculture systems, which help to reduce water consumption. Integrated aquaponics models have also been introduced to strengthen the synergy between fish farming and agricultural production.
As a result, the fish farming sector is now a major contributor to both the local economy and regional food security. It also provides employment opportunities and gives traditional farmers an additional source of income.
Salah Al-Abduljabbar, assistant director general for technical affairs at the Qassim branch of the Ministry of Environment, Water and Agriculture, said that the development of the aquaculture sector was one of the strategic tracks under Vision 2030.
Efforts were ongoing to expand projects, strengthen private sector partnerships and develop supply and marketing chains to ensure sustainable, high-quality production, he said.
The sector was also a promising field for investment as the Kingdom sought to boost its regional and global standing in the aquaculture industry, he said.
