Sari — Iran has set a target of producing more than 1.62 million tons of fisheries and aquatic products in the Iranian year 1405 (2026–27), following the country’s achievement of 106 percent of its production target last year, the head of the Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO) said.

 

Speaking at a press conference in Sari, Hamzeh Rostampour, head of the IFO and Deputy Agriculture Minister, said the organization’s priorities include attracting 1,000 trillion rials in investment, increasing aquatic-product exports to $1 billion, expanding fishing in international waters, diversifying and processing fisheries products, modernizing fishing methods, and restructuring shrimp farms.

 

He added that Iran plans to expand smart aquaculture, strengthen electronic monitoring of fishing activities, increase private-sector participation in restoring aquatic stocks, and promote seafood consumption.

 

Despite military tensions, Iranian fishermen caught more than 83,000 tons of aquatic products during the first four months of the current Iranian year, Rostampour said. During the same period, Iran exported 121,000 tons of aquatic products, while more than 13,000 hectares were brought under shrimp cultivation.

 

“Iran produced 1.566 million tons of fisheries products in 1404 (2025–26), exceeding its target of 1.535 million tons. Aquaculture accounted for 733,000 tons, while capture fisheries contributed 833,000 tons.”

 

The country’s aquatic-product trade reached $800 million last year, with total investment in the sector standing at 690 trillion rials, more than 92 percent of which came from the private sector, he said.

 

Rostampour also said Iran produced more than 6,000 tons of sturgeon meat and 30 tons of farmed caviar last year, exporting 15 tons of caviar. Sturgeon farming is now carried out in 23 provinces through more than 360 farms.

 

Meanwhile, more than 349 million fish fingerlings and shrimp post-larvae were released into the country’s water resources as part of stock-restoration programs, the head of the IFO concluded.