According to the public relations office of Iranian Fisheries Science Research Institute, Dr. Mahmoud Hafezieh (the deputy director of research and technology of the institute), on Rouyesh live TV program about Artemia breeding in earthen ponds, said: "Iranian aquaculture industry needs 28 to 30 tons of Artemia cyst annually, however currently, 95% of this product is imported from abroad.
Dr. Mahmoud Hafezieh, noting that the qualifications for breeding Artemia are not so difficult to be passed, added: "For example, in a one-hectare earthen pond, depending on the climatic conditions of the breeding area, one kilogram of cyst and 10 kilograms of biomass can be produced per day for three to four months." Therefore, considering the purchase price of this product by shrimp farmers, Artemia production and breeding can be economic.
Dr. Hafezieh said: to grow this creature, water salt should be above 50 grams per liter, but if the amount of the salt is low, you can shift to the production of biomass, which is now bought by shrimp farmers for 50,000 tomans per kilogram.
Regarding the nutritional value of Artemia, he said: Artemia is a live food that provides almost all the needs of aquatics such as ornamental fish, shrimp and Acipenseridae; enjoying 52% protein, 80% digestibility and long chain unsaturated fatty acids, is a unique food.
According to this official, 8 species of Artemia have been identified in the world so far, one of which lives in Lake Urmia; more than 600 identified strains are parthenogenetic and female.
Dr. Hafezieh added: “IFSRI has identified 18 suitable regions in Iran for Artemia breeding, among which Urmia and Meighan Arak salt wetland are the most important.”
Finally, he emphasized: “The claim of transmission of shrimp white spot disease by Artemia cannot have a correct basis, because in the processing stages, by removing the hard shell of Artemia, the causative agent is removed and the possibility of disease transmission is reduced to zero.”