TEHRAN – The Persian Gulf and Oman Sea Marine Biology and Ecology Research Center is currently conducting 21 research projects in the southern Iranian waters, the center’s director said Sunday.

Mohammad Mortazavi added the projects include the construction of artificial marine structures in Bandar Lengeh (started three years ago and due to finish by March), a major hydrobiology research project in Oman Sea due to start next month and take five years to complete. Also a stock assessment study in Hormozgan Province, which has 14 islands in the Persian Gulf and 1000 km of coastline, is underway.

The Persian Gulf hydrobiology research project has already been completed.

Bridge on Aras River to connect Iran and Nakhichevan

TEHRAN – The project of building a bridge on Aras River, northwestern Iran, which will connect Iran to the autonomous republic of Nakhichevan, is due to end by June 2007, the project manager told ISNA on Sunday.

About 21 billion rials ($2.28 million) has so far been spent on the project, which is 90 percent complete, Qavam Parvardegari stated. “An additional 13 billion rials ($1.41 million) is required to conclude the project in the next six months,” he said.

The bridge is 1,640 meters long. It has one 120-meter curved, iron-made span in the middle and two concrete spans under each side with a total width of 13.5 meters. A one-kilometer road is also being constructed in the area to provide access to the bridge.

Mazandaran Prov. stands 1st in farm fish production

SARI, Mazandaran Prov. – The northern province of Mazandaran accounts for 25% of the country’s farm fish production thus ranking first among Iranian provinces.

Fish farming output in this province reached 28,000 tons in the current Iranian year (ends March 20, 2007). The volume is projected to hit 50,000 tons by the end of the Fourth Development Plan (2005-10). The provincial fisheries department has pledged to hand over 3,000 hectares of land in Behshahr to the fisheries graduates.

Mazandaran, which borders the Caspian Sea, is one of the main suppliers of seafood in the country.

Ten new flights added to Ahvaz Intl. Airport chart

AHVAZ, Khuzestan Prov. – Ten flights have been added to the Ahvaz International Airport’s weekly flights chart, IRNA reported.

The move is expected to help the passengers find tickets in a shorter time for the Ahvaz-Tehran flights. Thirteen airlines offer domestic flights to Shiraz, Tehran, Mashhad and Kish Island as well as weekly flights to Dubai, Kuwait and Damascus.

TSE trade up 102.13%

TEHRAN – Over 88.27 million shares were exchanged for Rls.154.16 billion at the Tehran Stock Exchange on Sunday, showing 102.13% increase in volume.

According to ILNA, the main index (TEPIX) rose 3.05 points to 9,993.24, the main board index was up 4.84 points to 10,063.95 and the secondary board index soared 3.09 points 9,013.40. Meanwhile, the financial intermediation index was up 96.9 points to 18,523.2, while the industrial index dropped 1.1 points to 7,993.97.