TEHRAN- The head of Iran's Fisheries Organization said: Simultaneously with Agriculture Week, 105 fisheries projects in 19 provinces will be put into operation with the aim of strengthening food security and creating direct and indirect employment for more than 48,000 people.

Hamzeh Rostampour told IRNA: These projects will play an important role in developing the fisheries value chain and increasing production.

He stated that the implementation of these projects will create direct employment for 16,800 people and indirect employment for 31,800 people, and a total of about 16,000 families will benefit from its advantages.

Rostampour said: With the inauguration of these 105 provincial projects, the production capacity of Iran's fishery products will increase by 10,853 tons in the aquaculture sector, 26,000 tons in the fishing sector, and 785,000 ornamental fish.

He added: By implementing these projects, Iran's Fisheries Organization will take an important step towards achieving food security, sustainable development, and strengthening national authority through production, and our goal in this path, in addition to improving the livelihoods of coastal residents and producers, is to increase citizens' access to healthy and high-quality protein.

According to IRNA, the commemoration event of Agriculture Week of the Iranian year 1405 is being held from June 11 to 17 with the slogan "Food security in the shadow of national unity and authority" with various special programs and a new approach of "national narrative" regarding the activities of this sector and the role of producers in food production.

Last month, the director general of fishing ports development and management at the Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO) outlined actions taken in the previous Iranian calendar year 1404 (ended in late March), pointing to the implementation of around 16 major projects in the fishing ports sector, including breakwater construction, wharves, dredging of basins, and expansion of support buildings and core infrastructure along the southern coasts (the Persian Gulf and the Oman Sea).

According to Ministry of Agriculture, Mohammad Taheri also announced the completion of five port projects which, after being handed over to provincial fisheries bodies and operators, were officially inaugurated and brought into operation with the presence of senior officials.

He noted that despite unforeseen challenges and the severe conditions of the imposed war, effective steps were taken toward the construction, completion, and development of fishing ports across the country. These efforts aimed to upgrade infrastructure, improve efficiency, and enhance working conditions for fishermen.

The official acknowledged that some projects faced limitations or partial suspension due to wartime conditions, stressing that the department, in coordination with the organization’s leadership, prioritized projects and continued pursuing key initiatives with full commitment. He expressed hope that with improved conditions, full implementation of these projects would resume.

Taheri said that out of the total approved budget of 42 trillion rials (about $84 million) for the previous year, only 6.0 trillion rials (about 14.3 percent) had been allocated. Despite the funding constraints, efforts focused on optimizing resource management to achieve the best possible outcomes.

He added that around 20 trillion rials (about $40 million) in funding is projected for the current year under capital asset development programs, with additional allocations expected from the Makran coastal development plan and the presidential office for rural and deprived areas. If these funds materialize, at least seven new projects will be launched while 13 ongoing projects will continue, signaling a positive outlook for expanding fishing port infrastructure and strengthening sector capacity.

Meanwhile in April, the head of the Iran Fisheries Science Research Institute announced plans to implement over 200 research projects in the fisheries sector in the current Iranian year 1405 (starting March 21, 2026).

Agriculture, Mohammad Seddiq Mortazavi, referring to the institute's executive policies for the current year, stated: Given the country's circumstances, the institute will carefully pursue and implement the executive policies planned for the year 1405.

He added: In line with the approved priorities of the Strategic Council, the institute's research planning has been carried out with the aim of increasing resilience, sustainability, and enhancing fishery products in the areas of fishing, aquaculture, processing and value-adding, as well as the production of biological fishery products.

Mortazavi, referring to the macro-objectives of fisheries research, said: Increasing per capita consumption of aquatic products, preserving genetic diversity, rebuilding endangered aquatic stocks, and protecting aquatic ecosystems are among the most important objectives of this research, which are being pursued in cooperation with the Iran Fisheries Organization, the Iranian Veterinary Organization, the Environmental Protection Organization, the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology, and the Sea-Based Development Headquarters.

The head of the National Institute of Fisheries Science Research, emphasizing the role of education and knowledge transfer alongside research activities, stated: Achieving new global knowledge and localizing it through two-way technology transfer, as well as promoting research findings for transfer to the country's production sector, are among the most important missions of this institute.

He announced the goal of utilizing artificial intelligence in fisheries research activities and said: For the first time, the use of artificial intelligence in various research projects—including aquatic reproduction and rearing, aquatic health and diseases, nutrition and live food production, sustainable fishing with a species conservation approach, as well as the production of processed and biological fishery products—has been placed on the agenda.

Mortazavi continued: This program will be implemented with the support and funding of the Vice Presidency for Science and Technology and the Agricultural Research, Education and Extension Organization (AREEO). If the necessary funds are secured, the research station for marine fish production in Bandar Lengeh will also be equipped with AI-based facilities.

He also referred to the use of modern technology capacities and added: The utilization of nanotechnology and biotechnology capabilities has also been considered in research activities related to fisheries.

Mortazavi then referred to research programs in the field of natural resources and stated: Studies for assessing and managing aquatic stocks in the Caspian Sea will be pursued, and—if funding is secured—projects to assess aquatic species stocks in the country's southern waters will also be followed up.

Iran’s fishery industry is a vital part of the country’s economy and food security, providing direct employment for approximately 285,000 to 300,000 people and indirect jobs for one million more.

Strategically leveraging access to the Caspian Sea in the north and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman in the south, the sector is divided into two categories: capture fisheries and aquaculture, with the latter being the dominant force driving growth.

Production focuses on high-value species, including rainbow trout, common carp, and especially Pacific whiteleg shrimp.

As a major pillar of the non-oil economy, fishery exports reached over $700 million in 2025, with key markets including China, Iraq, and the UAE. Looking ahead, Iran aims to increase total fishery production to 1.8 million tons by 2030, with the goal of raising exports to $1.0 billion annually.

Iran’s seas host a rich diversity of fishery species.

Iran's fish farming sector, a vital part of its non-oil economy, primarily produces rainbow trout, common carp, and whiteleg shrimp. Production is geographically distinct: cold-water trout farms are concentrated in provinces along the Alborz and Zagros Mountains, while shrimp farming is focused in the southern coastal provinces of Bushehr, Hormozgan, and Sistan-Baluchestan. In 2025, the sector saw significant growth, with shrimp production alone reaching 50,000 tons. This robust aquaculture sector is a key driver for exports, job creation, and regional economic development.

EF/MA