Meeting with the National Geographical Organization of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran was held at the session hall of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute on August 17, 2020. Dr. Mahmoud Bahmani explained the 100 - year - old history of the institute and the capabilities of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute which has 11 affiliated research institutes and research centers. He said: Gilan Research Ship is the only ocean - going vessel in the Caspian Sea that belongs to the institute. For several decades, this ship has been able to carry out research activities and determine the biomass of aquatic resources in the Caspian Sea. He pointed out that the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, with more than 130 academic members, conducts various research activities at the national and international levels, and added: The National Geographical Organization of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, with its governmental expertise, is very important in protecting the resources and interests of our beloved country and its water and marine resources. Dr. Bahmani believes: There are unparalleled capacities of aquatic organisms in water resources in the country and any kind of technology and research findings in the field of fisheries must be scientifically approved by the institute and will undoubtedly result from the output of joint activities, inventions, innovations and similar issues which facilitates foresight. Dr. Fakhri, the head of the National Geographical Organization of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, introduced the organization and its partners and said: The National Geographical Organization of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran has been active since 1299 S.H. and has gone through a process of ups and downs during this period and has become a strategic organization in the country. He added: This organization includes 7 operational groups and several research centers in various fields, which it is hoped to use the facilities of Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute in the Caspian Sea, as well as the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman in this regard. Emphasizing on the data exchange for joint research, the official of the National Geographical Organization said: Among the activities of this organization, we can mention the geographical database with the ability to analyze and provide various services that are provided to users. Also, considering that all the information of the geographical areas of the country, aerial images, maps, etc. are available in the organization, it is hoped that with the cooperation of the two groups, more practical measures can be performed. Dr. Fereydoun Oufi, the academic member of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, gave a brief report on the process of the memorandum of understanding and the activities carried out. He said: From February of last year, a visit was made to the organization and initial measures were taken. In less than a month, the final version of the memorandum of understanding was signed and it was decided that the issues and pivotal subjects that are the priority of the organization and the institute will be discussed in the working group that will be formed afterwards and the results should be seen by the heads of the organization and the institute once every three months. Dr. Oufi added: In the first quarter of the year, meetings were held and the main priorities were identified such as the implementation of joint projects and the availability of vessels for independent operations. Among these were two important cases that led to a joint practical report; one was the phenomenon of sea mud volcano on the shores of Makran and the other was the monitoring of Sabalan Lake. Dr. Hafezieh, the deputy director for research and technology of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, referred to issues such as remote sensing data for valuable aquatic resources in the country, such as tuna, and access to herds of fish due to their importance. According to him, in the field of aquaculture as well as processing of aquatic products, etc., the information of the organization can be of great help to the institute. Dr. Hossein Zadeh Sahafi pointed out that more than 130,000 to 140,000 people are employed in the coastal areas for fishing jobs, and that the National Geographical Organization can help the institute in fishing systems, fishing piers and their distribution. Dr. Sharif Rouhani, the deputy director of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, referred to the issues that the institute has been facing for several years. He believes: In the matter of shrimp farming, during the past years, we faced a crisis of viral disease, which in the critical area (Abadan) of Chavibdeh, the viral disease suddenly caused a lot of damage due to the geographical sensitivity of the region, which was controlled by the jihadist action of the institute. Dr. Sharif Rouhani added: Another incident was the occurrence of red tide in the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman in 2008, the source of which was introduced by the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Ecological Research Institute as a phytoplankton species of the genus Cochlodinium. Finally, the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute was able to control this algal bloom by clay spraying operations. He referred to the issue of the Shahid Beheshti port in Chabahar, the completion process of which had been delayed for years, and continued: This port had a coral bed and concreting for the construction of this port was prevented. So the solution of the institute was to move the corals. Researchers were able to move 18,800 coral colonies from 25 cm to 2 m in diameter in a short period of time, which lasted about 3 months. These issues are considered as the most successful projects at the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute. Dr. Taghavi, the advisor to the director of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute, said: An important part of the work of this institution is governance, and given the limited ecosystems, the exploitation of these ecosystems must be maintained. He said: Coastal areas need to be zoned to determine sensitive fishing areas based on the criteria we have. Then, we will issue instructions based on them and create restrictions for capture fisheries. The sensitive and nursery areas need to be mapped. This memorandum of understanding can enable us to use these capacities. In the end, Dr. Fakhri suggested that a meeting be held in the organization for further discussion and wider cooperation. Dr. Bahmani also mentioned visiting the research centers and the research institute affiliated with the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute in the north and south of the country as one of the areas of further cooperation between this institute and the organization. The meeting was also attended by the deputies and managers of the National Geographical Organization of the Armed Forces of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Dr. Ghaednia, the deputy director for planning and support, and Dr. Doustdar, the head of the public relations department of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute. It is worth mentioning that Dr. Oufi was selected as the representative of the Iranian Fisheries Science and Research Institute.