Tehran – Kohgiluyeh-Boyerahmad Province in the southwest of Iran has increased its caviar production more than elevenfold over the past year, raising output from 170 kilograms to 2 metric tons and accounting for 10% of the country's total caviar production, a provincial official said.

 

Kourosh Yazdanpanah, director of fisheries and aquaculture at the provincial Agriculture Ministry, said the caviar is produced at sturgeon farms in Dana and Gachsaran counties and exported to Russia and European markets.

 

He said production is expected to expand further with the commissioning of the second phase of a 600-ton-capacity sturgeon farm in Deh Sheikh village, Dana County.

 

“To support continued growth, authorities have approved five new 50-ton sturgeon farming units and issued four additional operating licenses in Gachsaran. Beyond caviar, the province has also produced one million ornamental fish, reflecting efforts to diversify its aquaculture sector.”

 

Overall fish production has risen by 8,000 metric tons, driven by the reopening of 11 inactive farms and the launch of 12 new aquaculture facilities backed by investments exceeding 3 trillion rials, creating 94 direct jobs, the official further said.

 

“To boost export capacity, construction is underway on the province's first seafood processing and packaging plant, which will have an annual capacity of 10,000 metric tons of aquatic products and 10 million cans of processed seafood, helping streamline exports and reduce dependence on facilities in other provinces.”