The Upper Mekong Aquatic Animal Production and Research Centre in Stung Treng province was launched this week to advance aquaculture in the north-eastern part of Cambodia.

Located in the province’s Sesan district, the US$1.75 million worth research centre was funded by a concessional loan from the World Bank loan.

The Royal Government of Cambodia also contributed financially to the construction of the first-ever centre of its kind in the area.

Addressing the inauguration ceremony, H.E Veng Sakhon, Minister of Agriculture, Forestry, and Fisheries, underlined that the centre is essential to ensure food security through fish farming and aquaculture for domestic supply and export.

The centre will play a key role in promoting and preserving aquatic species and provide training on aquatic breeding and raising technique and conserving aquatic species for the locals.

It will also contribute to improving the efficiency of the management of fishery resources in the upper Mekong River, he added.

The centre is fully equipped with facilities for administration, research and laboratory, aquaculture, training, and fish breeding, hatchery and rearing.

Source: Agency Kampuchea Press