BAKU, Azerbaijan, Dec.23
By Fidan Babayeva – Trend:
High demand to organize the registration of fishery enterprises has occurred to date in Azerbaijan due to the lack of precise statistical data, Chairman of the Association of Fish Producers and Exporters of Azerbaijan Zaur Salmanli told Trend.
According to Salmanli, the main actual problems in the country’s fishing industry are the lack of qualified personnel, as well as a number of factors that make it difficult to import special technological equipment, biological materials, and medicines.
"The creation and operation of aquaculture farms in accordance with the requirements of the Azerbaijani Law on Fish Farming can help in solving the above problems that we faced in 2020. In the near future, the necessary measures will be taken to resolve this issue," he stressed.
Speaking about the development of the fish farming sector, the chairman noted that in 2021, it’s necessary to train highly qualified personnel for the fishing industry, as well as the opening of associations or public associations of fish farming enterprises to create links between industrial and government structures.
"From January through November 2020, imports of fish and fish products to Azerbaijan were mainly carried out from Russia, Chile, Norway, China, Iran, Georgia, Japan, and Turkey. During the reporting period, Azerbaijan imported fish and other seafood worth over $16.4 million," added Salmanli.
The annual consumption of seafood per capita in Azerbaijan is only 2.5 kilograms, while on average in the world this figure reaches 20.3 kilograms.
Currently, Azerbaijan Fish Farm is implementing several projects aimed at the development of aquaculture, including the fishery industry.
These projects cover various regions of Azerbaijan and envisage the cultivation of 1,000 tons (portioned and fillet) of rainbow trout, the production of 850 tons of sturgeon fish, and 10 tons of black caviar by the end of 2020.
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