Plans to create new Qatar shrimp farm revealed

QATAR has unveiled a plan to build a shrimp farm that could eventually become one of the largest in the world, with the multi-million dollar contract going to Texas based Global Blue Technologies, which specialises in the design and building of RAS systems and to UAE systems integrators ITQAN.

The first phase of the multi-million-dollar project will include a hatchery and production modules to produce 3,000 metric tons of shrimp per year as well as a Brood Stock Multiplication Centre (BMC) with the capacity to raise 300,000 brood stock.

Expansion goals include increasing shrimp production to 100,000 metric tons over the next four or five years. The deal ends a near two-year search for the technology and expertise to position the Middle East state (population 2.6 million) as a global centre for aquaculture excellence.

It also underpins the growing importance of aquaculture to the Middle East as countries in the region bid to become more independent in food production.

Global Blue Technologies CEO Stephen White said “We operate in keeping with the Triple Bottom Line ethic of economic prosperity, environmental stewardship and community prosperity. All that we do is to show that an ethical better-way exists for the benefit of people, the animals and the Earth. We see Qatar as the perfect partner in this endeavour.”

ITQAN Chairman Musallam Al-Nabit. added: “Qatar insists on absolute fidelity to excellence in all we do. The long due diligence to determine the company and system that will best safeguard our nation’s land and water resources was time and effort well spent. My pledge is that we will ensure every prawn our partnership produces will be the most exquisite the world will ever enjoy.”

The government of Qatar has spent the past 18 months vetting a dozen applicants vying to be named the sole source to produce environmentally responsibly raised premium shrimp. Qatar’s environmental criteria was the strictest in the industry. The partnership of GBT and Qatar’s ITQAN was chosen due to its proven expertise.

Global Blue Technologies says it has spent nearly two decades perfecting its bio-secure, recirculating aquaculture system (RAS). The company’s progress toward becoming a leader in the farmed shrimp industry thanks to its exquisite tasting, colossal shrimp grown was cut short in the autumn of 2017 by Hurricane Harvey, the most costly, destructive and deadly hurricane to make landfall on the continental United States for 10 years.