Fishery industry development measures discussed

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed proposals to introduce a unified management system and support the development of the fishery industry.

Fish farming is an important sector for ensuring food security, increasing rural incomes, and making efficient use of water resources. Aquaculture is developing rapidly worldwide. For the first time, the volume of farmed fish has exceeded the volume of catches from natural water bodies.

Uzbekistan has significant potential for the further development of this industry. The total length of the country's rivers, canals, and watercourses is 150,000 kilometers. Despite limited water resources, Uzbekistan holds a leading position in fish production in Central Asia. In 2023, 206,000 tons of fish were produced.

In recent years, alongside population growth, demand for protein-rich food products has increased. Fish is a cost-effective, nutritious, and healthy food product. In this regard, the importance of transitioning from traditional lake-based fish farming to a system based on efficient water use, water recirculation, and intensive technologies was emphasized.

The presentation highlighted the need to introduce a transparent system for leasing 329 natural water bodies and reservoirs, together with 163,000 hectares of adjacent land, and to ensure a guaranteed water supply for intensive fish farming and breeding enterprises.

Today, fish production using intensive methods accounts for no more than 20 percent of total output, while such technologies increase productivity and income many times over. It was noted that fully utilizing the existing potential could increase fish production volumes fivefold.

It was emphasized that the sector requires the introduction of new technologies and greater financial support for entrepreneurs. Measures proposed include the partial reimbursement of costs for installing recirculating aquaculture systems, subsidies for the import of broodstock fish and the installation of solar panels, and compensation of part of the interest expenses on preferential working-capital loans.

Mechanisms will be introduced to provide fish farms with loans and partially compensate interest expenses on loans in both national and foreign currencies.

Measures will be taken to increase fish production to more than 500,000 tons next year by leveraging these opportunities.

Particular attention was also paid to breeding and scientific approaches. It was noted that high-quality fish fry and strong genetics are key conditions for achieving high productivity. In this regard, work will be carried out to improve breeds of carp, catfish, trout, and sturgeon, as well as to adapt new species to local climatic conditions.

Starting next year, facilities for the production of trout and sturgeon will be established in foothill areas. An experimental site for the Research Institute of Fisheries will be created on the banks of the Akhangaran River, while foreign grants will be attracted to develop a national breed of carp.

The training of qualified personnel was also identified as an important task for the sector. A proposal was considered to establish a joint faculty of fisheries and aquaculture at the Agrarian University in partnership with China's Dalian Ocean University.

Particular attention was also paid to the digitalization of the fishery industry. It was proposed to create a unified electronic platform integrating data on water use, land plots, illegal fishing, tax payments, and fish production volumes. It was noted that expanding the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the industry would reduce costs and increase productivity.

The President approved the proposals presented and noted the need to further expand support measures for the industry.

The Head of State instructed responsible officials to develop the fishery industry on the basis of modern technologies, scientific approaches, and effective management, create favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, ensure the rational use of water resources, and provide the population with affordable, high-quality fish products.