The National Center for Mariculture (NCM) in Eilat, among Israel's most unique research institutions, is in danger of closure due to budgetary problems.

The closure is likely to seriously hinder efforts to utilize sea and salt water, as well as the experimental inland fish pools designed to replace the fish cages in the Eilat Bay.

The NCM's 50 researchers are likely to leave the country should the center be forced to close.

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Hundreds of scientists sent a joint petition to the government this week, asking it to ensure the center's survival due to its contribution to scientific research and development in Israel.

The center has operated thus far under the National Infrastructure Ministry and been financed by the national infrastructure and finance ministries, as well as research foundations.

According to NCM sources, the center is to be separated from the Infrastructure Ministry due to organizational changes affecting government research institutions.

The National Infrastructure Ministry is therefore refusing to transfer the NIS 4 million shekels earmarked for the center, the sources said.

National Infrastructure Ministry sources said in response that, according to the Economic Arrangements Law, the NCM is to become part of the Agriculture Ministry.

National Infrastructure Minister Benjamin Ben-Eliezer said however that he would like to see the center remain under his ministry, and will in any event transfer the budgetary allotment to center, as well as additional funds from the ministry's surplus.

In their petition to the government, the scientists called the center one of the world's most advanced research institutions in the field of seawater and salt water resources utilization.

The center recently opened an experimental facility for raising fish in inland pools. The facility is intended to replace the fish cages in the Eilat Bay, which the government ordered removed due to concerns of harm being done to the coral reef.

The closure of the center would mean cancellation of the project, adversely affecting fisheries companies.