Caspian countries to discuss moratorium on sturgeon fishing in Baku

Caspian countries to discuss moratorium on sturgeon fishing in Baku
The 32nd meeting of the Commission on Caspian Aquatic Bioresources slated for Dec. 14-16 in Baku will focus on sturgeon catch quotas and moratorium on commercial fishing, Azerbaijan media said Tuesday.

Delegates from the Caspian Sea countries will discuss a draft agreement on the protection of sturgeons resources in the Caspian Sea, according to the Azerbaijan Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources.

The Commission on Caspian Aquatic Bioresources was established in 1992 by Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Russia and Turkmenistan.

Five Caspian Sea littoral states (Russia, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan and Iran) have agreed-in-principle to ban the hunting of caviar-producing sturgeon in the Caspian Sea for a five-year period amid falling stocks of the fish famous for producing caviar. The proposal was put forward by Kazakhstan during a summit of Caspian Sea leaders in Baku in November, 2010.

The Caspian region is one of the most important areas for sturgeon, and is home to the six species which collectively provide more than 90 percent of the world's caviar production.

Caviar is one of Azerbaijan's most profitable industries. A kilogram of Caspian sturgeon caviar can cost more than 1,000 U.S. dollars on European markets. The country worries illegal over- fishing could permanently destroy the industry.

Editor: Yamei Wang

English.news.cn   2011-12-14 08:36:32              
BAKU, Dec. 13 (Xinhua)