Small coastal enterprises engaged in the production of oysters will soon have greater momentum, thanks to the construction of a laboratory for seed reproduction to ensure the sustainability of such projects in time.
The construction of the laboratory and its equipment is achieved through the strategic alliance of the public sector and academia. The total investment will reach a sum exceeding ¢5 billion, of which, the Ministry of Agriculture will provide ¢150 million for laboratory equipment, construction of reservoirs and a sea water recovery unit.
The IMAS will provide 250 million and the National University will cover the rest of the project.
"This way, we contribute to the strengthening of a new economic activity in the Gulf region, providing opportunities to initiate ventures in fishing and coastal communities and promoting economic recovery while management policies are implemented," said Minister of Agriculture and Livestock, Gloria Abraham Peralta, who participated in the announcement of this project.
The laboratory will be built on the National Station Coastal Marine Sciences (ECMAR-A) located in Punta Morales. It is estimated that production will have a capacity of 1.5 million seeds per month, which, given the experiences will supply at least 15 units of production with the planting of 100,000 seeds each month, as detailed by Urpí Oscar Pacheco, Director of Marine Sciences, of the UNA.
"The oyster seed production aims to promote entrepreneurship from the same coastal communities, which involves a process of training and support in the development of micro-thinking business capabilities. In this case, the process is part of a project school run by the alliance government (MAG-MBSF) and Universities (A, UCR and TEC) and INA, where the goal is to promote the development of oyster farming activity in the Gulf of Nicoya," said Mr Pacheco.
