Iran-FAO fisheries cooperation to expand

Tehran, Aug 5, IRNA - Iran's Fisheries Organization is currently studying a mechanism for taking advantage of Food and Agriculture Organization's (FAO) scientific and technical services in the form of joint project.


Rodolfo Zeisler, a senior expert with FAO, paid a two-week visit to
Iran recently to review specialized needs of Iran's fisheries sector
and draft a project in the context of Unilateral Trust Fund (UTF).

He inspected the achievements of the sector in Golestan, Mazandaran,
Hormuzgan and Tehran provinces and discussed the existing potentials
in meetings with Iranian officials of the sector.

In a meeting with the Head of Iran's Fisheries Organization Vahid
Zare', Zeisler referred to the country's capabilities in the field and
said that Iran has invested a great deal in aquatic culture in the
past two decades, given the importance of protein in public dietary
system.

Zare', for his part, underlined the status of Iran's fisheries among
the Caspian Sea, Oman Sea and Persian Gulf littoral states and urged
FAO to consider significant issues such as preservation of valuable
species and prevention of pollution of sea ecosystem, provision of
healthy food to the society, campaign against drought and compensation
of damages in the field of aquatic culture in drafting cooperation pact.

Given its capabilities in the field, Iran can undertake joint projects
with FAO, he said.

Zeisler will visit Iran again to draw up final stages of the UTF Project.