The announced project is extremely ambitious and its implementation will depend on the support of the different players

Iran Launches 17 Strategic Fishery Projects Amid Funding Push

IRAN
Thursday, August 07, 2025, 06:00 (GMT + 9)

Officials seek financial support from state-run companies and banks to advance research in aquaculture and genetic conservation.

TEHRAN – Iran has initiated 17 high-priority fishery research projects aimed at boosting productivity, reducing reliance on imports, and developing domestic aquaculture technologies. The launch was announced by Mohammad Sedigh Mortazavi, head of the Iranian Fishery Science Research Institute, during a meeting of the Strategic Council for Fishery Research.

Mortazavi underscored that securing financial resources is crucial for the projects' success, noting that a significant funding gap exists. The total estimated cost for the 17 active projects is 1.23 trillion rials (approximately $2.46 million), with major allocations for aquaculture (725 billion rials), fisheries and genetic conservation (270 billion rials), and processing and biotechnology initiatives (over 10 billion rials).

Despite a total estimated cost of $2.46 million, only 25 percent of the initial budget has been secured. In response, Mortazavi has called on state-run companies, banks, and government-affiliated institutions to allocate at least 60 percent of their research budgets to the fishery sector, citing a provision in the national budget law. He also proposed a targeted tariff of 0.5 percent on the value added from fisheries exports and processing, which could generate one trillion tomans ($20 million) to support strategic research.

The projects, which were selected from 345 proposals, are a part of a renewed coordination effort between research institutions and Iran's Fishery Organization (IFO). According to Mortazavi, introducing new aquatic species and expanding offshore cage farming are among the most strategic but costly programs, highlighting the urgency for timely budget allocations to ensure their implementation.

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