The Japanese government and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) have signed a funding agreement for a project to promote the sustainable development of the tuna value chain in the southeastern Chabahar region of Iran.
The initiative is to support the ability of local fishermen to access new markets while at the same time reducing the risk of over-fishing in the Gulf of Oman. Although tuna caught in the Chabahar region is of high quality, most of it is canned and sold at low prices. Fishermen are catching tuna using methods and at volumes that, if continued, will likely deplete marine resources in the coastal region, project officials said.
Through a collaborative approach with Iran’s Ministry of Agriculture Jihad, the Iranian Fisheries Organization and local institutions, UNIDO will provide technical assistance to improve the quality management system, encourage the promotion of exports at higher prices, promote sustainable fishing practices and establish a mechanism to monitor and control the stock of yellowfin tuna, UNIDO said.
Micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) in the fishery sector in Chabahar will directly benefit from these quality and market-related interventions, particularly from Japanese knowledge sharing and technology transfers, it added.
Related Articles
UN says Iran aid budget needs to double post-war as Afghan exodus increases
Stefan Priesner is the UN resident coordinator in Tehran, the UN's most senior official in the country, has said the organisation's humanitarian and development aid budget to the country would need ... more
Iran casts doubt on fragile ceasefire with Israel, warns of renewed response
Iran’s recently-installed Chief of Staff of the Armed Forces, Abdolrahim Mousavi, has voiced strong doubts over Israel’s commitment to the ceasefire that ended the recent 12-day war, warning that ... more
Iraq holds talks with Excelerate Energy on buying first LNG from US
Iraq is in the final stages of negotiating its first-ever purchase of LNG supplies as power outages hamper the Middle East country, Bloomberg reported on June 26. Dallas-headquartered Excelerate ... more