CHABAHAR, Sistan-Baluchestan Prov. (SHILNA) – The first edition of Iran’s Tuna Conference was held from 25-27 February in the southeastern port city of Chabahar.

Tuna is one of the most significant fish species in Iranian waters and according to latest statistics, in 2005 almost 156,000 mt of different tuna species were caught from the Persian Gulf and Oman Sea, which accounted for almost 45% of the total catch of the south and 30% of the entire country's fish catch.

Tuna harvest increased from 54,000 mt in 1995 to 156,000 in 2005 (almost tripled) while small pelagic catch rate at the same time remained almost stagnant while demersal catch rate declined. About 4700 fishing boats, including traditional fishing vessels and purse seiners, involved in tuna fishing and more than 100 processing plants actively producing canned tuna products, play a significant role in providing food and employment to the Iranian society. The first Iran Tuna Conference, held in Chabahar took a detailed look at various issues including: • The tuna stock status both at national and international level and future outlook • Assessing strengths and weaknesses of the tuna industry and the supply chain in the country • Review fishing methods and consider new techniques • Tuna trade situation (at regional and international markets) • Development of knowledge and improving the sector’s capabilities and capacities

On the sidelines of the conference, an exhibition and related workshops were also held. Two separate workgroups were formed to hold panel discussions of fishing management, processing and trade and the outcome was accordingly recommended to industry.

During the conference, it was announced that Iran ranks high in Indian Ocean tuna catch, standing second only to Indonesia. Sistan-Baluchestan, which borders the Oman Sea, a part of the Indian Ocean, accounts for 80 percent of Iran’s total tuna catch, and the rest is collected in Hormozgan (15%) and Bushehr (5%) provinces, S. Nezami, director of the Iranian Fisheries Organization said while talking at the conference

“On the world table of tuna catch, Iran stands 12th,” he added, predicting that Iran’s share in the Indian Ocean Tuna Commission (IOTC) would soon reach 280,000-300,000 tons.