Iran, Russia extend ban on Caspian sturgeon fishing

Fishery officials from Iran and Russia have agreed that a
ban on fishing beluga, the most prestigious Caspian caviar, and other fishes
that produce caviar eggs should be extended for another year.

During the 11th session of Iran-Russia Joint Fisheries
Committee held on Thursday, Iranian Deputy Minister Hossein Hosseini and Vasily
Sokolov, deputy head of the Federal Agency for Fishery, agreed that the beluga
sturgeon is still among the endangered species in the Caspian Sea, where more
than 90 percent of the world’s caviar is produced.

The two sides further stressed the need for the expansion of
cooperation for facilitating the export of fishery products to Russia through
the development of transportation routes.

The two officials also discussed ways of cooperation in
various areas including processing and trade of fishery products, scientific
and research, restoration of reserves and aquaculture, as well as, the
development of investment in Iran’s fisheries industry.

Iran and Russia have been boosting their economic ties as
the two sanctioned nations take new steps for expanding cooperation in the
energy sector and increasing settlements in national currencies.