Signatories of the project agreement were Mr. Serge Nakouzi, FAO envoy to Iran and Dr. Hassan Salehi, Deputy Minister of Agriculture and the Head of Iran Fisheries Organization indicated an official launching of the FAO project.
The project will be implemented over a two-year period (November 2016 – October 2018) in Mazandaran province, the mountain and coastal areas along the Caspian Sea, and has the budget of $ 330,000 funded by FAO in the of framework of a Technical Cooperation Program (TCP). The focus will be on the establishment of a selective breeding program for rainbow trout. The Kelardasht Cold Water Fish Hatchery will be the primary location for the breeding nucleus and grow-out of genetically improved rainbow trout breeding candidates.
According to a press release published by the FAO representation in Iran, the project mainly focuses on increased availability of farmed rainbow trout in Iran with the expected impact of improved food security and livelihoods for people, especially those involved in producing, distributing and consuming farmed fish.
Rainbow trout farming is an ideal option for sustainable use of water resources in mountainous regions of the country due to the fact that both surface and underground waters are suitable for this purpose. In regions such as Mazandaran and Guilan provinces where income-generating and employment opportunities are scarce, trout farming could help to ensure employment and increase in income of the local communities.
The FAO’s TCP project is also linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) advocated by the United Nations including SDG 6: Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all; SDG 14: Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development; and SDG 15: Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss.
SH/PR
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