Tehran - Expanding aquaculture in underdeveloped regions, the Makran coastline, and saline waters could generate significant foreign currency revenue and large-scale employment, the head of the Iran Fisheries Organization (IFO) said.

 

Hamzeh Rostampour, deputy agriculture minister and fisheries chief, said that production in marginal lands and brackish environments offers strong export potential.

 

Referring to UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) projections that aquatic products will supply a major share of global protein by 2050, he identified Makran coastal development and marine-based industries as strategic opportunities for Iran.

 

Rostampour underscored the sector’s contribution to food security and sustainable maritime development, noting that fisheries support around one million jobs, operate more than 20,500 licensed vessels, and generate approximately $700 million in foreign exchange annually.

 

He highlighted the expansion of aquaculture output from 32,000 tons in the early post-revolution period to more than 1.5 million tons today, describing coastal farming complexes and the involvement of local fishers in shoreline protection as a form of non-military maritime resilience.

 

The official also reported growth in distant-water fishing and shrimp farming, with production surpassing 60,000 tons, alongside policies to curb raw exports of species such as sardines and expand tuna line fishing.