Ruhullo Qurbanov said that the center works on diversifying assortment of fish products, manufactured in Uzbekistan.

Currently, the most widely distributed fishes in Uzbekistan are spotted and white silver carp, grass carp and sazan, he added.

He said that the works are underway on breeding of trout, cat-fish, sturgeon, black carp, as well as freshwater shrimp in Uzbekistan.

Head of the center noted some businesses are breeding sturgeon, in particular in Tashkent, but they offer lower number of fish for customers.

“In 209, we imported 1,500 young fishes of sturgeon and now we are forming brood stock of fish. In line with our calculations, after three years we will receive spawn, which will be enough for mass breeding sturgeons. After 5-6 years, Uzbekistan will have locally made sturgeon and it will not be exotic product.”

Narodnoye Slovo reported that Uzbekistan pays special attention to development of fishing in the country. The government adopted special programme for 2009-2011, which helped to raise fish production. Qurbanov said that Uzbekistan produced 6,500 tonnes of fish in 2006 and 10,700 tonnes in 2010.