KUWAIT: The Kuwait Institute for Scientific Research (KISR) announced Thursday the successful production and marketing of locally farmed shrimp for the fourth year in a row — a milestone the institute says strengthens national food security and aligns with the country’s long-term development vision. The announcement was made during KISR’s annual “Shrimp Harvest” event at the Kabd Research and Innovation Station, held under the patronage of Acting Director General Dr Faisal Al-Humaidan. The initiative is part of KISR’s broader push to promote sustainability, self-sufficiency, and innovative food systems under New Kuwait 2035.

“This success represents an important strategic step toward developing the aquaculture sector on a wide commercial scale in Kuwait,” said Dr Shireen Al-Subaie, a scientific researcher at KISR’s Environment and Life Sciences Research Center and head of the sustainable shrimp farm project using modern technologies.

This year’s harvest marked a leap in progress. According to Al-Subaie, the shrimp reached the weight of commercial shrimp (20 grams), with production levels exceeding two kilograms per square meter — impressive results given Kuwait’s harsh environmental conditions. “These results are the outcome of meticulous research and advanced applications in intensive and closed shrimp farming systems,” she explained. “The systems have proven highly efficient in adapting to Kuwait’s difficult groundwater and extreme climate.”

For the first time, the locally farmed shrimp were sold in Kuwaiti markets — a breakthrough that KISR hopes will encourage the private sector to invest in domestic production. Currently, more than 70 percent of shrimp consumed in Kuwait is imported. Al-Subaie credited the achievement to the institute’s use of biofloc technology — an eco-friendly, chemical-free system that continuously recycles water and eliminates the need for antibiotics. “The institute has excelled in adapting this complex technology to Kuwait’s low-salinity groundwater — a major scientific challenge, especially given its unbalanced ionic composition,” she said.

Beyond boosting food security, KISR sees this innovation as an opportunity to generate investment and create new jobs for Kuwaitis in the aquaculture sector. Looking ahead, the institute has submitted a proposal under the government’s initiatives program to establish a large-scale Fish Farming Economic Complex in the "Ghadhy” desert area north of Kuwait City. The proposed 100,000-square-meter site could produce up to 1,200 tons annually of shrimp, as well as local species like "sobaity", "hamour", and "shaam". The complex would also manufacture fish feed and processed products — a potential game-changer for Kuwait’s food economy. “This is a promising path toward sustainable development goals and a more resilient national food system,” Al-Subaie said. — KUNA