Why has the release of fingerlings into the Caspian Sea been suspended?

Our country is one of the five states with access to the Caspian Sea. This has historically created favorable conditions for the widespread development of fishing. However, in recent years, the reduction in the amount of local fish in markets and rising prices have caused serious concern. Prices for imported and local fish products are practically the same. Currently, fish brought from Astrakhan is sold in markets at quite favorable prices.

In this situation, a logical question arises: if the Caspian is the same, why don't we have the same fish?

On this issue, the chairman of the Association of Fish Producers and Processors of Azerbaijan, Zaur Salmanov, answered questions from BAKU.WS.

According to him, for many years, 11 fish farming enterprises under the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources were engaged in breeding fish fry and releasing them into natural water bodies. However, during the period when Mukhtar Babayev was the Minister of Ecology, these enterprises were opened for privatization, and as a result, 9 of them were either sold or completely ceased their activities. Currently, there are only 2 enterprises, and it is reported that they do not release fish fry into water bodies.

"Although the ministry considers this area economically inefficient, specialists believe that this is the wrong approach. In their opinion, most Caspian countries continue the process of fish breeding with state support, which makes a great contribution to the conservation of water resources. Experts emphasize that the release of fish fry to maintain the natural balance is similar to planting trees along roads - the goal is not economic benefit, but the protection of the ecosystem," said Z. Salmanov.

The chairman also noted that today fish breeding activities should be mandatory. This industry needs state support.

According to Zaur Salmanov, certain positive changes are also observed in the industry.

"In December of last year, by order of President Ilham Aliyev, the fishing industry was transferred to the Ministry of Agriculture. Cooperation between the association and the ministry has already begun, and it is noted that this department takes a more objective approach to entrepreneurs' proposals. Salmanov believes that significant improvements may be observed in this area over the next 3-5 years," he noted.