Aquaculture, Mariculture Key to Global Food Security: FAO
TEHRAN (Tasnim) – FAO Representative to Iran Serge Nakouzi highlighted the importance of aquaculture and mariculture in ensuring global and national food security.
Recent studies have predicted a considerable increase in fish consumption in developing and developed countries during the coming decades, Nakouzi said Monday on the sidelines of a technical workshop on Marine Cage Culture in Tehran.
Organized by Iran’s Ministry of Agricultural Jihad and FAO’s Fisheries and Aquaculture Department, the four-day workshop will run until September 29.
“World per capita fish supply reached a new record high of 20 kg in 2014 thanks to vigorous growth in aquaculture, which now provides half of all fish for human consumption globally,” he said.
Development of marine cage culture in Iran would benefit the country in responding to its growing demand for aquaculture products, Nakouzi went on to add.
The Islamic Republic of Iran is one of the most important aquaculture producing countries in the Persian Gulf region.
The country has some 50 years of experience in aquaculture, mainly in pond culture of freshwater fishes including major Chinese carps, trout and production of stocking fingerlings in the Caspian Sea.
Aquaculture production in Iran increased rapidly from 3,219 tons in 1978 to 371,840 tons in 2014, representing approximately 39.2 percent of the total fish production.