May 15, 2007

Iran's shrimp producers push for plan to promote shrimp aquaculture

Shrimp breeders are congregating in front of Irans's Ministry of Agriculture urging a plan supporting shrimp farmers and exporters to be implemented.

The plan has been endorsed four times but has not been implemented, the managing director of Iran's Cooperatives for Breeding and Exporting Aquatics said. 

A committee with representatives from Iran's Fisheries Organization, Shrimp Breeding Union is currently studying the plan, the country's news agency reported.

The plan would would be sent for final ratification in less than a month, the committee said.

The plan would resolve the problems of the shrimp industry within two years and set out measures to achieve the target set for the  Fourth National Development Plan (2005-10).

The Iranian shrimp industry is undergoing a challenging phase currently as recent shipments had been returned due to paperwork. Iran is also faced with expulsion for the list of shrimp exporting states.