An aquatic animal health facility has opened in Hulhumale' on Thursday.

The facility was established under the Mariculture Enterprise Development Project by the Ministry of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture in collaboration with the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD).

The opening ceremony of the facility was inaugurated by the Minister of Fisheries, Marine Resources and Agriculture, Zaha Waheed.

The Aquatic Animal Health Facility will provide services to the mariculture industry such as screening for diseases in mariculture, diagnostic testing, and biosecurity. This development is significant progress for the field of aquatic biosecurity in the country.

Additionally, plans to introduce molecular diagnostics, bacteriology and basic parasitology to the facility are underway.

According to the Ministry of Fisheries, the administration has prioritized developing the field of aquatic animal health in order to prevent economic losses caused by diseases in mariculture.

As such, an aquatic animal health strategy has been prepared for the mariculture industry under the Mariculture Enterprise Development Project.

The aquatic animal health center will be essential in enforcing the plans laid out in the aforementioned strategy for the field of bio-security and aquatic animal health in the country.

While the facility was constructed by the government, the Mariculture Enterprise Development Project was in charge of establishing the laboratory, providing the necessary equipment, and training the staff for the facility.