Today, Sunday, 08.05.1438 AH corresponding to 05th February 2017 AD, HE Minister of Environment, Water and Agriculture opened the forum of challenges and opportunities of aquaculture in inland water within the Kingdom between the reality and future prospects in headquarter of Saudi Grains Organization (SAGO) in Riyadh City.

HE Undersecretary of Fisheries, Eng. Ahmed bin Saleh Al-Aiadh gave an opening speech for the forum and dealt with the importance of the aquaculture in the inland water confirming that the Ministry seeks through this forum to present the future prospects of this sector and discuss the challenges faced by the sector and the proposed solutions. This is achieved by joining an elite of the international and local experts to review the current situation and to develop the recommendations suitable for promoting this sector.

In addition, Al-Aiadh incited the investors that they shall shift to using the closed systems in all kinds thereof in order to maintain the water resources and to ensure the continuity and sustainability of these projects. He affirmed that the Ministry is ready to shift and present all forms of technical support for the investors and stated that the Ministry – in cooperation with Agricultural Development Fund – studies the presentation of agricultural loans for inland water projects that shift toward the use of the closed systems.

This was followed by a visual presentation, which was a documentary film about Biofloc that the Ministry have concluded a joint agreement with a private sector institution to perform an experiment on possibility of entering this experience to the kingdom and to evaluate the possibility of using the same commercially.

The initial results showed the success of the experiment that saves more than 90% out of the water used in the aquaculture and achieves saving in the fish feed reaches to 30%.

The forum concentrated on other techniques, such as "Aquaponics" and water RAS Systems. At the end of the forum some recommendations were concluded, which all participate in causing the quantum leap in the aquaculture projects in the inland water including the encouragement of the shifting toward the closed systems and supporting the use of both Biofloc and Aquaponics techniques in  the projects and farms. Activation of the joint committees between the Saudi Society and Food and Drug Authority to discuss the situation of the imported products. Activation of the Markets Development Committee. Inciting the companies and projects in the inland water to shift toward procuring BAPC Certificate.