October 28, 2019

 

Iran's aquaculture output to exceed 1.37 million tonnes from March 2019 to 2020

 

 

Nabiollah Khanmirzayee, Iran Head of Fisheries made this statement, with reference to the country's 1.1-million-tonne aquaculture produce between March 2018 to 2019, reported FARS news agency.

 

Speaking at an international fisheries and aquaculture exhibition in Tehran, he said the country's aquaculture output has exceeded targets defined in a five-year national economic plan that commenced in 2016.

 

He said Iran is the number one rainbow trout producer in the world and third biggest sturgeon farming and processing globally, adding that shrimp production is increasing despite disease challenges that have affected output in recent years.

 

He added that the aquaculture boom is a result of government policy to encourage seafood consumption to reduce imports and increased demand for seafood in the country. The average person's consumption of seafood is 12.1kg per year in 2018, 50% more compared to previous years.  

 

In June 2019, Mahmoud Hojjati, Iran Minister of Agriculture said shrimp production had grown to 50,000 tonnes in early 2019, more than the 12,000 tonnes produced in 2013.

 

He said the government has increased investment in shrimp farming, with some 1,800 hectares of expansion dedicated to the industry.

 

The Iran government estimated about 22,000 tonnes of shrimp was exported between March 2017 to 2018, valued at US$150 million.

 

By 2021, Iran will raise shrimp production to 60,000 tonnes. To achieve this, aquaculture farms in Sistan, Baluchistan and along the Caspian Sea coast will be expanded. Collaborations with other nations like France have been launched to further cultivate and increase shrimp exports.

 

Golestan, northern Iran is the primary aquaculture area in the country. Around 80% of Golestan-produced shrimp are exported overseas.

 

The Iran calendar year begins on March 1 and ends on March 31 the following year.

 

- FARS news agency