Sari - A pilot project to farm Vannamei shrimp using Caspian Sea water in Iran’s northern Mazandaran province has delivered results 30 percent better than those recorded in Gomishan, according to the provincial fisheries chief.

 

Nima Hosseinzadeh said the project, the first of its kind in Mazandaran, was carried out at Amirabad Fishing Port using water pumped directly from the Caspian Sea.

 

“Some 15,000 juvenile shrimp were stocked in a 450-square-meter earthen pond.”

 

About 90 percent survived to harvest, with the shrimp reaching an average weight of 17.5 grams in just 82 days, he said, adding that the results demonstrate the potential of Mazandaran’s coastal areas for shrimp farming, citing the Caspian’s relatively low salinity and natural food resources as favorable conditions.

 

He said shrimp farming could generate returns of around 50 percent, with investment recovery estimated at 1.5 to two years.

 

Hosseinzadeh said around 60–70 percent of Iran’s shrimp production is currently exported, adding that shrimp produced in northern Iran could have strong potential in international markets.

 

The pilot was implemented with private-sector participation, and officials hope to expand shrimp farming in suitable areas of Behshahr County after the necessary permits are issued.