The President of the Republic, Mr Danny Faure, unveiled the commemorative plaque to officially open the Broodstock Acclimation and Quarantine Facility (BAQF) at the Providence Fishing Port this morning.

This is the first marine aquaculture facility on Mahé consisting of multi-species that provides quarantine treatments for wild-caught broodstock, and prepares these animals for life and reproduction in captivity. Broodstock, or broodfish, are a group of mature individuals used in aquaculture for breeding purposes. The facility was funded by the European Union.

The project which started in 2017 was constructed in two phases. The first phase comprised of the quarantine area and an acclimation area. The quarantine area includes six quarantine tanks (7.6m3 each) which operate on a recirculating aquaculture system basis. The acclimation area comprises of two tanks (40.5m3) for large fishes including grouper and four tanks (20m3) for smaller fishes including snapper and pompano. Water supply to the acclamation is on a flow-through basis.

The second phase has a multi-species hatchery and nursery facility for the production of finfish and invertebrate juveniles. Phase 2 also incorporates research on a variety of finfish and invertebrate species.

During the ceremony, there were addresses by the Minister for Fisheries and Agriculture, Mr Charles Bastienne and remarks by the Ambassador and Head of the delegation of the European Union (EU) to the Republic of Seychelles, H.E. Mr Vincent Degert, following which President Faure was given a tour of the Broodstock Acclimation Quarantine Facility.

The ceremony was also attended by Vice-President Vincent Meriton, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice Francis MacGregor, Designated Minister Macsuzy Mondon, Deputy CEO of the Seychelles Fishing Authority, Mr Calvin Gerry, among other distinguished guests and staff of the Seychelles Fishing Authority.