According to the public relations office of IFSRI report, the deputy director of research and technology of the institute, considered the reproduction of the seabass fish to be the most important action of the institute this year in a conversation with the reporter of Eghtesad Saramad newspaper.
It is stated in this report: “The new and profitable industry of fish farming in cages, which has been proposed for several years with the approach of giving a rest to the sea, reviving habitats and reproducing aquatic resources, is entangled with a complex of various problems and the activists in this field need to improve with the support of the government. This activity is one of the new methods of aquaculture which, due to employment, income generation and quick return of capital, has many applicants for investment, but its prosperity requires efforts to solve the problems of existing ambiguities. Keeping this industry afloat does not require the use of electrical energy sources, underground water sources and fuel, and even occupies less land only for a back-up site and is implemented in the sea bed, and a product that is 70% organic is produced. The product of this industry has domestic consumption and can also be exported and a 500-ton collection with an investment of 16 billion tomans brings 35 billion tomans profit. Unfortunately, overexploitation of the capacity of aquatic resources using fishing methods and destructive tools in recent decades has caused the reduction of aquatic resources, the destruction of habitats and fishing grounds and the increase in the costs of fishermen in the southern ports, especially in Bushehr province. For this reason, experts have tried to provide an opportunity to restore the reserves by breeding fish in cages and creating the required space for the implementation of this plan since 2001.
Indicative actions of IFSRI in 2022
Mahmoud Hafezieh, deputy director of research and technology of IFSRI, in an exclusive interview with Eghtesad Saramad, on the sidelines of the fisheries exhibition and in relation to the indicators of the institute's actions in fisheries affairs this year, told our reporter: “IFSRI, with 104 years of research experience in the field of fishing, aquaculture and processing has achieved great success.
Asian Sea Bass is the only fish which its reproduction for culture in cages is followed in the south of the country.
He mentioned the breeding of Asian Sea Bass, the only fish in cage aquaculture as the most important effective action of IFSRI this year, and added: “This type of fish is being reproduced in all parts of the south of the country, mainly in Hormozgan.
Which cities benefit from the cage fish farming industry?
He stated that in Sistan and Baluchistan, the unit for breeding this type of fish in cages has recently started, but it has been running in Bushehr and Khuzestan for a long time. About 4,000 tons of Sea Bass fish, is the amount of production that we have achieved in the country at the moment.
The most important problem of Sea Bass fish production
Stating that the supply of fry is one of the most fundamental problems of the profitable cage fish farming industry, which used to be imported, Dr. Hafezieh added: “This year, in addition to breeding, our institute was able to successfully reproduce fish in Ahvaz Research Institute. Fish breeding is a biotechnical process with different stages, the most important part of which is the use of the appropriate dose and hormone for successful reproduction.
Expressing his desire to accompanying the private sector in the breeding of Sea Bass fish in cages and stop the import of fry, Hafzieh added: “This will prevent the import of fry and the outflow of currency from the country. Another goal which was achieved in 2022 by IFSRI is creating conditions for the reproduction of chroma shrimp in the second six months of the year, when it is not possible to culture Vanamei shrimp in the south of the country. Because this type of shrimp grows in the Persian Gulf without any worries.
We hope to produce at least 30,000 tons of shrimp within the next 5 years
Pointing out that this type of shrimp will enter the production cycle from the second half of next year, he said: “The unemployment of shrimp farmers who were inactive in the second 6 months of the year will be prevented. Therefore, we hope to have at least 30,000 tons of shrimp production more than the previous years in the next 5 years.” The research deputy of IFSRI said about the savings of the two mentioned projects: "In the first plan, a significant amount will benefit the country following the prevention of the import of 6 million larvae from Australia and Thailand by producing Sea Bass fish.” Pointing at the importance that every 100 larvae need about 2 US dollars, Dr. Hafezieh said: “According to the predetermined plan of the Fisheries Organization, we will reach the production of 500,000 tons from 4000 tons in a 10-year horizon, provided we do not need to import Sea Bass larvae to the country. It should be added that the weather and the availability of port infrastructure in Bushehr are the advantages of this industry activation compared to the northern provinces, because the pleasant weather and the species of fry used can be saved in 12 months of the year.