RIYADH: Saudi Arabia’s food security strategy has received a boost with a trout farming project developed through a partnership between King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology and King Abdulaziz University. 

The initiative, carried out at KACST’s research station in Al-Muzahmiyya Governorate, was supported by the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture’s National Livestock and Fisheries Development Program. 

The project introduces trout as a species suited for diverse environmental conditions, expanding the availability of fish with high nutritional value. This move aims to address the growing domestic demand for seafood while mitigating potential supply chain disruptions. 

This aligns with Saudi Vision 2030, which set a target of increasing domestic fish production to 600,000 tonnes annually to ensure sustainable food supplies. 

The initiative also supports the National Fisheries Development Program’s goals of optimizing resource use, boosting the sector’s contribution to gross domestic product, achieving seafood self-sufficiency, and diversifying income sources. 

The new project employs a recirculating aquaculture system, which uses less water than traditional methods and reduces the risk of parasites and viral infections that could harm fish. 

These advanced systems also regulate key environmental factors in fish farming, such as temperature, oxygen levels, and nutrition, thereby enhancing aquatic animals health and quality. 

This initiative aligns with the National Laboratory’s ongoing efforts to localize RAS technology using fresh water. 

Trout were farmed and raised from the egg incubation stage to the point where they reached a commercial size of over 1,200 grams. 

This success has encouraged the private sector to adopt the technology across various regions in Saudi Arabia, including Riyadh, Makkah, Al-Baha, and the northern regions. 

Trout and other cold-water river fish were specifically chosen for local farming to meet the growing demand for high-protein, omega-3-rich, and vitamin-packed fish, which are essential for human health. 

In October, the Ministry of Environment, Water, and Agriculture announced that Saudi Arabia’s fisheries and aquaculture production increased by 55.56 percent in 2023, surpassing 140,000 tons. This highlights the Kingdom’s commitment to achieving food self-sufficiency and promoting sustainable development. 

The ministry noted that the country has achieved record-breaking production levels in saltwater and inland aquaculture projects, surpassing the 90,000 tonnes recorded in 2021.

Aquaculture in the Kingdom, which began in 1982, has grown substantially, establishing the nation as a leading exporter of white shrimp.

SINGAPORE: Oil prices rose on Monday as lower-than-expected US inflation data revived hopes for further policy easing, although the outlook for a supply surplus next year weighed on the market, according to Reuters. 

Brent crude futures rose 36 cents, or 0.5 percent, to $73.30 a barrel by 07:21 a.m. Saudi time. US West Texas Intermediate crude futures climbed 39 cents, or 0.6 percent, to $69.85 per barrel. 

“Risk assets, including US equity futures and crude oil, have started the week on a firmer footing,” IG markets analyst Tony Sycamore said, adding that cooler inflation data helped alleviate concerns following the Federal Reserve’s hawkish rate cut. 

“I think the US Senate passing legislation to end the brief shutdown over the weekend has helped,” he said. 

Both oil benchmarks fell more than 2 percent last week on concerns about global economic growth and oil demand after the US central bank signaled caution over further easing of monetary policy. Research from Asia’s top refiner Sinopec pointing to China’s oil consumption peaking in 2027 also weighed on prices. 

Money managers raised their net-long US crude futures and options positions in the week to Dec. 17, the US Commodity Futures Trading Commission said on Friday. 

Concerns about European supply eased on reports the Druzhba pipeline, which sends Russian and Kazakh oil to Hungary, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Germany, has restarted after halting on Thursday due to technical problems at a Russian pumping station. 

Shipments resumed on Saturday, according to Belarus’ BelTa state news agency. On Sunday, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said supplies on Druzbha to the country had restarted. 

Before the halt, the pipeline was shipping 300,000 barrels per day of crude. 

US President Donald Trump on Friday urged the EU to increase US oil and gas imports or face tariffs on the bloc's exports. 

The European Commission said it was ready to discuss with Trump how to strengthen what it described as an already strong relationship, including in the energy sector. 

Trump also threatened to reassert US control over the Panama Canal on Sunday, accusing Panama of charging excessive rates to use the Central American passage and drawing a sharp rebuke from Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino. 

In the US, the number of operating oil rigs was up one to 483 last week, the highest since September, Baker Hughes reported on Friday. 

Macquarie analysts projected growing supply surplus for next year, which will weigh down Brent prices to an average at $70.50 a barrel, from this year’s average of $79.64 a barrel, they said in a December report.