Caspian Sea: State of the Environment 2019

it has reached the biological limit of production (FAO 2016). This certainly applies to most types of fishing activity in the Caspian, where it is al- ready being felt in everyday life, including by Ira- nian fishers, with a decrease in the number of fish caught (The Guardian 2015). Nevertheless, in the governmental five-year fisheries plan, the total annual fish catch is expected to increase from 950,000 in 2014 to 1.5 million tons in 2020 (FAO 2016). It is important to note that Iran is develop- ing aquaculture significantly in its inland waters and at fish farms (Strukova et al. 2016). The encouragement of new aquaculture produc- tion in Iran by issuing affordable licences in vari- ous parts of the country, investing in aquaculture research and increasing the availability of funds for co-financing aims to increase existing and stimulate new production. To reduce the pressure on natural resources and create jobs in Gilan Province, a specific type of aquaculture – pen aquaculture – was proposed for the production of sturgeon and bony fish species (Zekrgoo and Lafmejani 2017). Iran and FAO are participating in a two-year project enti- tled “Genetic improvement of rainbow trout in the Islamic Republic of Iran”. The project aims to improve food security for the people of the

aquaculture and tourism as the best alternatives that do not cause pollution or over-exploitation of biological resources (Blue Marine Foundation n.d.). According to official statistics, aquaculture production in Azerbaijan almost doubled in 2015 compared to 2014, amounting to 603 tons, rising to 645 tons in 2016 (Azerbaijan, State Statistical Committee of the Republic of Azerbaijan 2017). Generally speaking, all littoral states (with the exception of Iran) experienced a decline in aqua- culture production following the collapse of the Soviet Union. Only the Russian Federation has recently restored production to previous levels. Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan have very little production in this sector, but there are opportunities for growth. Total fish production in Iran has been steadily increasing since 1990, as has the contribution of aquaculture to the fisheries sector as a whole. In 2015, production in the aquaculture sector ac- counted for 35 per cent of total fisheries produc- tion (World Bank 2017b). Fisheries policy in Iran is largely focused on transitioning from fishing to aquaculture. An important reason for this is that, although the total fish catch has increased, by some estimates

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