FISH BUSINESS

The Caspian sturgeon has long been among the main assets ​​of national biological resources. A couple of decades ago, the estimates made by ichthyologists have pointed out that the profit from the breeding and sale of sturgeons (considered a delicacy in many countries) can greatly increase the revenues of the entire oil production in the Caspian Sea.

However, intensive development of oil fields has led to environmental changes, which in turn resulted in considerable reduction of biological resources, including one of the most valuable fish species, the sturgeon family. The scientists warn that the number sturgeons is at a critical level. However, the situation is not so hopeless. A proper co-operation between the scientists and entrepreneurs can help to revive both the biological and economic values of sturgeons.

Environment and Poaching

The Caspian Sea is the richest water body in terms of the number and diversity of sturgeon species. The maximum catches of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea were noted at the beginning of the twentieth century (39.4 thousand tons) and by the end of the 70s (27.4 thousand tons). The sharp decline in the sturgeon population began in 1991.

According to the Director of the Institute of Zoology of the National Academy of Sciences of Azerbaijan, Ilham Alakbarov, one of the main reasons of decline were marine seismic surveys. “The Institute has studied the effects of seismic works. We have determined that during these studies (usually they take 2-3 months or more) a “dead zone” forms at the area. The invertebrates like rotifers and crustaceans have completely died, including some mollusks as well”, said Mr. Alakbarov.

Large-scale illegal fishing in the rivers and the sea has also reduced sturgeon populations. On the other hand, the comb jelly Mnemiopsis, which makes his way from the Black Sea to the Caspian using the ballast water of ships, is growing rapidly and has a negative impact on food resources of most fish, including the sturgeons. Mr. Alakbarov also said that the Caspian Sea receives lots of industrial and chemical waste from the Volga and Kura rivers. This overall pollution of the sea has been the main reason for the decline of sturgeon population for many years.

As a result, the stocks of sturgeon in the Azerbaijani sector of the Caspian have declined sharply and account for 12-15% of total reserves.

The Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources (MENR) supports the reproduction, breeding and protection of fish and other aquatic resources of Azerbaijan. The Ministry controls twelve fishing companies. Four of them specialize in breeding of sturgeons, three - salmon and trout, five - carp fish.

According to MENR, the government has carried out works to preserve the unique biological resources of the country, and this process continues. The total amount of claims for illegal fishing or violation of fish hunting rules reaches ₼1 million. However, despite these measures, we have not been able to completely prevent illegal fishing and selling of fish products. Poachers are equipped with sufficiently broad and high-speed boats, allowing them to hide from persecution, while the Ministry staff has old equipment.

In November 2010, it was decided at the Third Summit of the Heads of Caspian Littoral States to develop a mechanism for moratorium. Since that time Azerbaijan has introduced a moratorium on commercial fishing of sturgeons.

Over the past decade, the global sturgeon fishing volume has stabilized at 0.95 million tons.

By the way, according to statistics from the FAO (UN Food and Agriculture Organization), the average annual fish consumption per capita is 18 kg. The highest annual average recorded in the South-East Asia - more than 60 kg (Japan, China, Vietnam and Thailand consume more than 100 kg). In Turkey the consumption is 18 kg, while in Azerbaijan the average annual fish consumption per capita in 2009 was only about 2 kg. In 2014, this figure rose to 7 kg.

As for the moratorium on sturgeon fishing, the Caspian states do not conduct commercial sturgeon fishing in recent years. It is only conducted for artificial reproduction in hatcheries and researches. Azerbaijan imports black caviar grown in aquaculture from China.

Only 380 kg of sturgeon fish (sturgeon - 230 kg, stellate sturgeon - 150 kg) was harvested for the purpose of the artificial reproduction in 2015-2016.

A profitable Business

The ban on commercial sturgeon fishing has forced entrepreneurs to actively join the restoration of populations and artificial fish breeding. In fact, this business is quite lucrative and profitable. The Khilly sturgeon plant has operated in Neftchala since 2003. It can produce 15 million fingerlings per year, has an incubator, circular pools and electronic workshops. Each pool, depending on the type of fish, contains from 10 to 20 thousand fingerlings. In the spring and summer, when fingerlings reach 1-1.2 grams in weight, they are released to the Kura River.

Three years ago, the plant managed to get healthy fingerlings through artificial crossbreeding for the first time in Azerbaijan. This year, the Khilly plant initially produced and released 130 thousand sturgeon fingerlings to the delta of the Kura River. It is planned to produce more than 5 million fingerlings during the whole season.

Businessman Vugar Shafiyev created a fish company in the village of Samukh, Barda, which is engaged in breeding of small fish and sturgeon. He has managed to create ponds in the village near the Upper Garabagh Channel, where he is breeding about 50 thousand sturgeons. Mr. Shafiyev started his business four years ago. He intends to launch caviar exports to foreign markets starting from March next year. The expected production volume is 1.5 tons of caviar. One kilogram of this expensive product costs more than ₼2,000 in local market and many times more abroad. As acknowledged by Vugar Shafiyev, his company produces artificially six sturgeon species. He plans to expand the services by increasing the number of round and other pools. However, breeding of the sturgeon is not easy and requires a lot of funding. That is because the local producers have to import fish food, which is expensive. Along with the sturgeon, his plant is also breeding farm carp, silver carp, grass carp, which are sold at both the local and Baku markets.

Meanwhile, not all initiatives of this kind may be welcomed, and here's why. Recently, the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources has warned about the problem of incorrect use of fish farms in the country. During the monitoring, the officials of MENR have revealed facts of rough use of land, changing their destination, creating of lakes and fish farms on private plots of land. According to MENR, pond fisheries in Salyan, Neftchala, Saatli, Bilasuvar and other parts of the country can be closed before the end of this year. The activities of private fish farms are harmful to agriculture. Also, most of them do not meet generally accepted standards. The owners of the lakes and ponds must have documents proving biological and technological feasibility of fisheries for national economy.

For example, land leasers in Bilasuvar turned the allotments to pond fisheries. They violated the rules necessary for their activities. According to a farmer, the lake depth is three meters and it is located next to the discharge channel, which pulls moisture. However, farmers engaged in agriculture, say the opposite. According to them, the dampness of the lake have a negative effect on the yield of grains and alfalfa. Furthermore, in summer, the lake is filled with water and for this reason, farmers suffer moisture deficit. Head of Sector at MENR, Ragub Mirzayev, said: “Indeed, the creation of primitive fisheries is not allowed. During monitoring, it was discovered by primitive ponds and lakes in the municipal lands, on private land in the squares near the areas where farmers are engaged in farming. In addition, the pond farms were established on lands where the grapes and cotton are grown. Hundreds of lakes were created in the territory of Neftchala, Salyan, Bilasuvar, Saatli, Sabirabad, Imishli regions of the republic. These lakes occupied land area of ​​0.2 to 25 hectares. MENR requires that the leasers use land properly. Lakes and pond farms change the designation of the land, then prepare design and estimate documentation, annexing the opinion of the examination. In short, in the primitive constructed ponds and lakes are not allowed to engage in fish farming”, concluded the expert the Ministry of Environment of the Republic.

Despite the business is profitable enough and its development is undoubtedly only benefit the country's economy, it is important to respect the principle of “do no harm”. And only integrated management of all agricultural areas can help in this situation.