Tashkent, Uzbekistan (UzDaily.com) — Fisheries and aquaculture are an important sector of food production in the Republic of Uzbekistan. This industry provides the population with high-quality, protein-rich products and ensures food security.

They can create new jobs in rural areas, thereby contributing to the improvement of the population’s welfare. As a result of comprehensive state support for the fishing industry and the opportunities created, significant changes have occurred in the work of local farmers, and production growth has been ensured.

Today, sustainable development in this area has become one of the priorities of economic reforms.

A scientific approach plays a key role in achieving sustainable development. In this context, the activities of the Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries are particularly important.

The institute’s scientists are working on acclimatizing new fish species, developing innovative resource-saving technologies, preventing diseases, and conducting research in the fields of fish feed and nutrition. The Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) of the United Nations provides significant support in implementing these initiatives.

Within the framework of FAO projects, the material and technical base of the institute is being strengthened, modern laboratories are being built, the qualification of specialists is being raised, and practical recommendations for local farmers are being published. Today, the republic has 63,000 hectares of artificial and 537,000 hectares of natural water bodies.

Currently, there are more than 5,700 fishing farms operating in the country, 175 of which are engaged in fishing in natural water bodies. The key issues are more efficient use of these water resources, the implementation of new integrated technologies, and improving productivity.

In cooperation with the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the Fisheries and Aquaculture Commission of Central Asia and the Caucasus (CACFish), and the Scientific Research Institute of Aquaculture, the regional "Integrated Aquaculture System" has been established. As part of this cooperation, a fisheries seminar was held, where topics such as a scientific approach to increasing pond productivity, raising new fish species, operating aquaponic systems, and using renewable proteins in fish feeding were discussed. Specialists from Turkey, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and the Czech Republic participated in the regional seminar.

The regional seminar in Tashkent played a key role in promoting sustainable aquaculture in Uzbekistan and the region as a whole. Experts from different countries exchanged knowledge on pressing issues such as pond productivity, aquaponic systems, and innovative fish feeds. With the support of FAO and other partners, this collaboration emphasized the importance of modern technologies and scientific approaches in addressing urgent problems and increasing production efficiency. "I am confident that these efforts will make a significant contribution to strengthening food security and economic development," said the national facilitator of "CACFish," Abdumalik Namozov.

On the second day, participants visited the Scientific Research Institute of Fisheries, where they were introduced to a project being implemented under public-private partnership. Information about modern technologies, new production facilities, and innovative solutions used in the project was presented to the participants. The two-day scientific and practical seminar was accompanied by lively discussions