Dr. Mahmoud Bahmani visited the Kish Free Trade – Industrial Zone and was introduced to the potential of the island in fisheries. The director of the Iranian Fisheries Science said: The Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute is one the affiliated institutes with the Agricultural Research Education and
Extension Organization which has 11 research institutes and research centers in the country. The Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute has more than 100 years experience in fisheries research and can play a role in fisheries development in the Kish Island. According to Dr. Bahmani, issues such as production of algae, edible oyster, sea cucumber and things like that are among the topics that the technical knowledge of them has been provided by the researchers of the institute and can be used as the basis for job creation and entrepreneurship in the Kish Island. He continued: The subject of ornamental fish is one of the most attractive fisheries issues that can generate income and contribute to the development of tourism in the Kish Free Trade – Industrial Zone. In this regard, the project for evaluation of ornamental fish stocks has been carried out in the southern waters of the country and their fisheries habitats have been identified. The potential of using artificial habitats to increase the natural production of aquatics including ornamental
fish will be one of the potentials of the Kish Free Trade – Industrial Zone.Dr. Bahmani emphasized the importance of cage fish farming in the southern waters of the country and pointed to the unique role of the consortium in sustaining production in the industry.Dr. Khon Mirzaei, the head of Iran Fisheries Organization, referred to the share of aquaculture production (60 %) and capture fisheries production (40 %) in the world. He pointed to serious damages to the resources of aquatic organisms in the north and south waters of the country. The head of Iran Fisheries Organization mentioned: Sharp decline in sturgeon stocks due to the pressure of capture fisheries on the stock in recent years are examples of these problems.One of the major projects of the ministry in the field of resistance economy is cage fish farming industry, Dr. Khon Mirzaei said. He added: In addition to the support The National Development Fund of Iran for the industry, facility support is also envisaged for the project. Locations and zoning studies for the establishment of marine cages have also been carried out by the Iranian
Fisheries Science and Research Institute. It is worth noting that the Kish Island with a population of 40,000 has an unemployment rate of 8.3 %. Sea - based development and fisheries issues can be very effective in creating employment opportunities and reducing unemployment in the island. In this regard, signing of Memorandums of Understanding among the Kish Free Zone Organization, the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute and the Iran Fisheries Organization can help develop this industry in the Kish Island.It is worth mentioning that Dr. Zare, the deputy of the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Dr. Bazargan, the deputy director of research of the Agricultural Research Education and Extension Organization, Dr. Eshaghi, the head of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute, Dr. Amighi Rudsari, the deputy director of research and technology of the Razi Vaccine and Serum Research Institute and a group of deputies and heads of departments of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute attended the trip. They visited the marine cages of the Niksa Company in the east of the port of Gerzeh.