News
Minister Davitashvili observes working process at the “Mariculture Georgia” enterprise of mussels and oysters
Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, Mr Levan Davitashvili joined Ilia Tamarashvili, Director of Rural Development Agency (RDA) upon paying a visit to the “Mariculture Georgia” enterprise of mussels and oysters. The respective enterprise owns two entities in Georgia – marine farm and processing enterprise in Adjara and a freezing enterprise of shock method in Tbilisi. As an effort to arrange marine farm and processing enterprise – the company has utilized a preferential agro-credit. The State funding has amounted to 470, 000 GEL.“Georgia has a great potential for enhancing both, aquaculture, as well as mariculture. The respective potential shall be absorbed at a great extent; thus, the State has already made significant efforts in 2020. Legislation has been drafted and already enacted, which will complement development of the respective area in the country. The company “Mariculture Georgia” has made primary steps and demonstrated success into practice. We aim at cultivating comprehensive chain of supply to guarantee development of agricultural areas, such as aquaculture and mariculture; for the latter objective, we will complement enhancement of primary as well as processing infrastructure, as well as sharing expertise. The State will actively assist private initiatives – translating into swift advancement of aquaculture and mariculture” – Minister Davitashvili stated.
In 2020, underwater farm of the “Mariculture Georgia” at Black Sea, village of Kvariati, was launched, which undertakes cultivation and production of marine products. The main focus of the company is on the Black Sea mussels (mutilus galaprovinciale) and oysters (oyster grasoteria gigas). An underwater farm of the company spans across 70 hectares or aquatorium. The company’s production volume per year comprises 30 tonnes of mussels and 10-15 tonnes of ousters. Maturity of mussels is 2 years, while maturity age of an oyster is 4 years. Alive products are supplied during the period of May – October; as for the rest of a year, the production is realized in a frozen form. There are plans to export production and offers have already been received from Azerbaijan, Ukraine, Russia, Hong Kong and Canada.
As an effort to boost production of mussels and oysters – the State intends to purchase a special ship.