Economic Update – Baghdad
On Friday, the Ministry of Agriculture announced the implementation mechanism to prohibit fishing during the breeding season, in addition to confirming the annual production of 35 million carp fingerlings aimed at bolstering the country’s fish resources and supporting local fisheries.
The procedure for artificial insemination requires a formal decision to prohibit fishing, as authorized by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Livestock Department under provisions (a) and (b) of Article Two in the Aquatic Regulation and Hunting Act No. 48 of 1976 and its amendments.
The prohibition is designed to allow fish to reproduce and preserve fish stocks during the breeding season, which runs from February 15 to July 1. The country has been segmented into three designated areas for fishing bans: the first region (southern governorates) prohibits fishing from February 15 to April 15; the second region (central governorates) prohibits fishing from February 15 to May 1; and the third region (Kirkuk and Nineveh governorates) prohibits fishing from March 15 to July 1.
Al-Jubouri emphasized that violations of these instructions will result in the penalties set forth by law, stating that the purpose of this decision is to safeguard fish stocks and provide fish the opportunity to grow and reproduce.
This mechanism will be communicated across all governorates, aimed at informing governors’ offices, security agencies, and the Ministry of Interior. Follow-up committees will be formed by the agricultural directorates in conjunction with security services to ensure compliance with the established timelines.
Concerning the types of cultivated fish, Al-Jubouri clarified that the cultivation process includes carp fingerlings of three varieties (common, herbivorous, and silver) as well as various native Iraqi fish species, such as brown, carcass, chiaf, and gas.
The annual production of carp fingerlings is reported to range from 30 to 35 million, while the output of native Iraqi fish lies between 2 to 3 million fingerlings.
Regarding the release of fingerlings into various governorates, Al-Jubouri explained that this is conducted through formal communications from the Livestock Department to specify suitable release locations, ensuring conditions favorable for the growth and protection of fingerlings until they are ready for fishing.
Furthermore, joint release committees will be constituted between the Livestock Department and the relevant agricultural directorate. The release will occur according to specified quantities, in the presence of security authorities, local governments, or agricultural societies in the target districts.