Caspian littoral states to discuss sturgeon fishing moratorium

The Caspian littoral states will discuss introduction of moratorium on sturgeon fishing in the Caspian Sea in Iran in late January, chairman of Fishing Industry Committee, Yury Romashov, said at a press conference in the Ministry of Agriculture, Kazakhstan Today reported.

Romashov reminded that the initiative on introduction of the moratorium on sturgeon in the Caspian Sea was put forward by the President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev, in April, 2009 during the official visit of the President of Iran, Mahmud Ahmadinejad, to Kazakhstan.

"We received an invitation from Iran to take part  in the 31 session of the commission on water bioresources of the Caspian Sea on Jan. 25-27 in Tehran."

Romashov said that Russia supports this offer and has unilaterally introduced moratorium on sturgeon, but has not decreased its actual catch.

"Iran refrained from the moratorium last summer."

Turkmenistan refrained from the moratorium. "They will, probably, support this idea, but it will be known at the commission session."

Azerbaijan suggests introducing moratorium stage by stage.

Russia’s quota in sturgeon fishing is 26 percent, Kazakhstan’s is 20 percent, Iran’s 44 percent and Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan have 10 percent altogether.

/APA/