Measures for the development of the fishing industry were discussed

President Shavkat Mirziyoyev got acquainted with the presentation of proposals for the development and support of the fishing industry, the press service of the head of our state reports.

Fish farming is an important link in ensuring food security, increasing rural incomes and efficient use of water resources. Aquaculture is rapidly developing around the world. For the first time, the volumes of farmed fish exceeded the volumes of catch in natural reservoirs.

Our country has great potential for further development of this industry. The total length of rivers, canals and watercourses in the country is 173 thousand kilometers. Despite the limited water resources, the republic occupies a leading position in terms of fish production in Central Asia. In 2025, 206 thousand tons of fish were harvested.

In recent years, along with population growth, the demand for protein-rich foods has also increased. Fish is a cost-effective, dietary and healthy food product. In this regard, the need to transition from traditional lake fish farming to a system based on the rational use of water, its recycling and intensive technologies was emphasized.

The presentation noted the need to introduce a new transparent system for leasing 329 natural reservoirs and reservoirs, as well as the adjacent 163 thousand hectares of area, guaranteed water supply for intensive fish farming and breeding farms.

Today, the share of fish production using intensive methods does not exceed 20 percent of the total. While such technologies significantly increase productivity and income. If the existing potential is fully utilized, fish production volumes can be increased 5 times.

It was emphasized that it is necessary to introduce new technologies in the industry and provide financial support to entrepreneurs, in particular, to partially cover the costs of installing closed water circulation systems, provide subsidies for the import of breeding brood fish, provide subsidies for the installation of solar panels, and also compensate for part of the interest costs on preferential loans to replenish working capital.

Mechanisms for allocating loans to fish farms, as well as partially covering interest expenses on loans in national and foreign currency, will be introduced.

Due to these opportunities, it has been instructed to take measures to increase the volume of fish cultivation next year to more than 500 thousand tons.

Particular attention at the presentation was also paid to issues of breeding and scientific approach. It is noted that the key condition for high productivity is high-quality juvenile fish and good genetics. In this regard, work will be organized to improve the breeds of carp, catfish, trout and sturgeon, as well as adapt new species to local climatic conditions.

Starting next year, it is planned to create facilities for the production of trout and sturgeon in the foothill areas. An experimental site will be created on the banks of the Akhangaran River for the Research Institute of Fish Breeding. To develop a national breed of carp, foreign grants will be attracted.

The training of qualified personnel has also been identified as an important task in the sector. A proposal to open a joint faculty for fish farming and aquaculture on the basis of the Agrarian University together with the Russian Astrakhan State University and the Chinese Dalian Oceanological University was considered.

Particular attention was paid to issues of digitalization of the fishing industry. It is proposed to create a single electronic platform that combines data on water use, land plots, illegal fishing, tax payments and volumes of fish products caught. It is indicated that the expansion of the use of artificial intelligence technologies in the industry will reduce costs and increase productivity.

The President of our country approved the proposals presented and noted the need to further expand measures to support the industry.

Responsible persons were given instructions to develop the fish farming industry based on modern technologies, a scientific approach and effective management, create favorable conditions for entrepreneurs, rational use of water resources, and provide the population with affordable and high-quality fish products.