If the current trend in the illegal catch of the sturgeon fishes continues, the fishes would definitely become extinct within the next few years, noted the official who is also Iran's representative to CITES- Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora.
Each year, 1,000 tons of the fish were caught from the sea in the past (20 years ago), 300 tons of which was Iran’s share and the rest belonged to the former Soviet Union, Mohammad Purkazemi said adding, but now, all the five Caspian Sea littoral states’ annual quota altogether is set at 105 tons 50 percent of it belonging to Iran
He pointed to the total of 18.5 tons of Iran’s catch from the sea during the first nine months of the current year (Iranian year started March 21) and warned that the figure showed some 30 percent decline compared to the past year.
Referring to the production quotas set by the CITES for 2006, he pointed out that due to some ambiguities, the world organization has not determined the quotas yet, the Persian service of IRNA said here on Monday.
Every year, the CITES asks caviar producing countries for a quota for the following year's catch. 169 countries are currently member to the international organization. The Caspian littoral states Iran, Russia, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan produce 90 percent of the world caviar, with Iran accounting for 60 percent of their output.
The Caspian Sea or Mazandaran Sea is a landlocked sea between Asia and Europe. It is the world's largest inland body of water. The sea is home to 87 species of microphytes and many species of green algae.
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MNA