The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced in a press statement on Saturday a new scientific achievement by completing the cycle of amberjack fish farming for the first time in the Middle East. The institute successfully produced larvae of these fish from broodstock raised in closed-tank systems with highly purified water circulation, adhering to precise scientific standards.

Dr. Faisal Al-Hamidan, Acting Director General of the Institute, stated in the release that this achievement enhances efforts to achieve local food security, contributes to the development of marine aquaculture technologies, and elevates Kuwait's name in international scientific forums. He added that the researchers' success in obtaining juvenile fish from these broodstock represents a qualitative leap in the aquaculture industry.

Dr. Afaf Al-Nasser, Executive Director of the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, explained that KISR is the first research institution globally to begin developing amberjack fish farming technology in 2021. The team successfully produced juvenile fish in May 2024, achieving this result within just three years of the project's launch.

Project lead researcher Amani Al-Yaqout emphasized that raising amberjack fish in closed systems and fattening them using low-salinity water was accomplished without any reproductive stimulants. This approach opens the door for commercial application, enhancing food security and protecting the natural stock of these fish from the risk of extinction.

Team leader Musaed Al-Roumi noted that the Integrated Technologies for Fish and Shrimp Farming Company (Salia) supported the first phase of the project by raising amberjack larvae.

Dr. Turki Al-Saeed, Director of the Coastal and Marine Resources Program at the Environment and Life Sciences Research Center, highlighted that the project is funded by the Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Sciences. He pointed out that amberjack fish have been classified as an endangered species since 2014 due to overfishing and changing environmental conditions in the Arabian Gulf.

Fish larvae breeding expert Salim Al-Daqoor described the study of growth development and the determination of environmental and nutritional requirements for amberjack fish as a significant scientific achievement. This research will be documented in peer-reviewed scientific papers and presented at international conferences, adding to Kuwait's portfolio in marine research and supporting the future of aquaculture.