BIZERTE (TAP) - A Tunisian-South Korean shellfish farming project carried out in Bizerte with an investment of 1.6 million dinars has produced 500 thousand shellfish larvae.

Five Tunisian promoters have received training in this kind of farming and will then take over in this field.

The project was achieved in May 2008, in association between the Higher Institute of Farming and Aquaculture of Bizerte and Korea International Co-operation Agency (KOICA) and the National Fisheries Research and Development Institute (NFRDI).

Results of this farming were presented on Saturday in Bizerte by Mr. Mohamed Chelfak, Co-ordinator of the project who said that technologies brought by the South Korean side helped bring the maturity of shellfish larvae (commercial stage) from three years to one year.

Tunisia can now produce 1.5 million of shellfish larvae per year at a time when the global demand is witnessing a noticeable increase, he said.

Secretary of State in charge of Environment Salem Hamdi said Tunisian-South Korean co-operation has involved a set of pilot projects in the agricultural sector such as shellfish farming.

Mr. Beyong-gook, Deputy Chairman of KOICA stressed the South Korean Government's readiness to support the economic and social development process in Tunisia.