A new regional office of the National Environmental Agency was opened in Batumi
Aquaculture
The Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Otar Shamugia, along with the head of the Adjara government, Tornike Rizhvadze, toured the new regional office of the National Environmental Agency in Batumi to familiarize themselves with its work processes.
The building accommodates key structural units of the National Environmental Agency, including the Department of Fisheries, Aquaculture and Water Biodiversity, the Batumi Laboratory of the Environmental Pollution Monitoring Department, and the Adjara Regional Hydrometeorological Observatory.
In accordance with international standards, ambient air, water, and soil analysis laboratories have been established, along with microbiological, hydrobiological, and ichthyological laboratories, all equipped with ultra-modern technology and infrastructure tailored to the specific needs of the research field.
According to the minister's statement, strengthening institutional capacities in the environmental sector is a priority for the country, a commitment that is also reflected in the fulfillment of obligations outlined in the environmental provisions of the association agreement between the European Union and Georgia.
"We have completed the construction of the regional office of the National Environmental Agency in Batumi, where a laboratory equipped with modern technology will be established to conduct research on soil, air, and water quality monitoring. We regularly monitor the water quality of the Black Sea, particularly during the tourist season. The results of our monitoring indicate that the water quality of the Black Sea meets established standards. Strengthening the capabilities of the National Environmental Agency is one of the Ministry's priorities, and we are actively working on this. It is also important to note that similar efforts to set up an office and laboratory have commenced in the city of Kutaisi," stated the Minister of Environmental Protection and Agriculture, Mr. Otar Shamugia.
The head of the Adjara government, Tornike Rizhvadze, congratulated the employees of the National Environmental Agency on the opening of the new office and emphasized that the research conducted in the laboratory is crucial for both the local population and the vacationers visiting the region.
As noted by Maya Bitadze, Chair of the Environmental Protection and Natural Resources Committee of the Parliament, it is significant that the office was constructed with state investment. The environmental and technological resources provided by the office are essential for attracting new personnel and for the successful implementation of the recently introduced paid internship program.
In the new Batumi laboratory, it will be possible to expand research components and introduce new methods utilizing the latest technologies. The number of monitoring stations will increase, enabling studies to be conducted in accordance with the framework directives of the European Union's water and marine strategy. Scientific research opportunities in the fields of fishing and aquaculture will significantly enhance, both in marine environments and within inland water bodies.
It should be noted that until now, only a short chemical analysis was carried out in the Batumi laboratory, while the samples were sent to the Tbilisi air, water and soil laboratory for complete analysis
