"There are two concepts related to increasing fishing in Azerbaijan's water basins. The purpose of establishing our institution is to develop aquaculture. Because there is a global trend in this regard. The UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) has also announced that last year, the volume of fish produced through aquaculture exceeded the volume of wild-caught fish."
These words were stated by Jeyhun Aliyev, Director of the Fisheries and Aquaculture Center.
The Center Director added that a large part of the fish consumed globally is aquaculture production, raised in farm conditions. In Azerbaijan, the main goals are the development of aquaculture and ensuring that fishing is sustainable and controlled:
"Various proposals are being prepared for the development of aquaculture in Azerbaijan. Aquaculture will also benefit from state support provided to agriculture. Considering aquaculture products as agricultural products means they will receive certain tax concessions. Because until now, aquaculture farms were considered industrial, and both VAT and other taxes applied to industry were imposed. However, agriculture has been exempt from tax for many years.
Subsidy mechanisms are planned for future years. Currently, the first proposed subsidies are based on the volume of products produced here. This means that farmers who produce and sell fish products will receive a certain portion of it – a specific amount as a subsidy.
The goal here is to encourage these farmers to both invest in this sector and increase productivity. It should be noted that there is a certain dependence on imports for fishery products. For this purpose, the goal has been set to increase local production and reduce import dependence."
Considering Azerbaijan's climate conditions, the presence of the Caspian Sea, and inland waters, sturgeon species, which are among Azerbaijan's rare species, create great potential for aquaculture development. This will increase the export potential of these sturgeon, both as fish and as caviar."
J. Aliyev noted regarding fishing that the goal here is a sustainable and controlled mechanism:
"A commission has been established by a relevant order of the ministry to provide science-based quotas for fishing. This commission will begin its work in the coming weeks. It will conduct scientific research both in Azerbaijan's inland waters and in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian Sea. Fish stocks for the upcoming year will be determined here. After the stocks are determined, fishing quotas for the next year will be allocated.
At the same time, fish breeding activities will also be launched. This involves releasing fish fry into both the Caspian Sea and inland waters to prevent problems related to wild-caught fish."
Baku.ws