BAKU, Azerbaijan, October 16. Iran has caught 5,578 tons of sprat fish from the Caspian Sea from June 21 through October 15, the official representative of Iran's Fisheries Organization Reza Abbaspour Naderi told reporters, Trend reports.
According to him, Iran's catch of sprat fish from the Caspian Sea decreased by 1 percent compared to the same period last year. In the same period last year, Iran caught 5,623 tons of sprat fish from the Caspian Sea.
Abbaspour Naderi noted that 3,309 tons of sprat fish were caught from the Caspian Sea in Mazandaran province, which is 1 percent more than the same period last year.
The spokesman said that 2,269 tons of sprat fish were caught from the Caspian Sea in Gilan province. The sprat fishing in this province decreased by 3 percent compared to the same period last year.
He emphasized that the reason for the decrease in sprat fishing is the reduction in the number of vessels engaged in catching. Thus, while last year (from March 21, 2023 through March 19, 2024) 73 vessels were engaged in sprat fishing in the Caspian Sea, this number has decreased to 72.
Meanwhile, more than 90 percent of the sprat fish caught from the Caspian Sea in Iran is used for the production of fish powder. Sprat fish is richer in nutritional properties compared to many other fish. However, due to the lack of awareness of people in Iran, most of the fish caught from the Caspian Sea is turned into fish powder.
To note, in order to preserve the fish stock of sprat in the Caspian Sea, sprat fishing is not carried out in the sea during the summer period.
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