KRG Boosts Fish Stocks with Major Dukan Dam Release
The KRG Ministry of Agriculture released 400,000 fingerlings into Dukan Dam as part of a plan to boost fish production. The initiative aims to achieve self-sufficiency, create jobs, and diversify the economy through government support for the private sector.
ERBIL (Kurdistan24) – In a significant move to bolster the region's food security and advance its economic diversification agenda, the Kurdistan Regional Government's (KRG) Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources on Sunday initiated its first major campaign of the year to increase fish production, releasing over 400,000 fingerlings into Dukan Dam.
The initiative is a key component of the Ninth Cabinet's program to develop local resources, reduce reliance on imports, and achieve self-sufficiency in vital sectors.
Hiwa Ali, the spokesperson for the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, confirmed the details of the campaign in a statement to Kurdistan24 on Sunday. He explained that prioritizing and expanding fish resources is a strategic goal for the ministry.
"With the aim of prioritizing fish resources, the ministry annually releases more than 650,000 fingerlings into the dams of the Kurdistan Region," Ali stated. He noted that the release of over 400,000 fingerlings into Dukan Dam on Sunday marks the beginning of the ministry's 2025 efforts to increase fish production.
"The Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources gives great importance to fish resources and has plans to further increase this resource," Ali added, underscoring the government's long-term commitment to the sector.
The push for increased production comes as the Kurdistan Region faces a significant gap between domestic output and consumer demand. According to statistics from the Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources, the annual production of fish in the region is currently over 3,500 tons. However, to reach a level of self-sufficiency, the Kurdistan Region needs approximately 80,000 tons of fish per year.
To bridge this gap, a robust private sector has been established with significant government support. There are currently 412 licensed projects for fish production in the Kurdistan Region, complemented by four government-run projects dedicated to producing fingerlings. This burgeoning industry has already created more than three thousand job opportunities for the local workforce, with the total capital of the projects exceeding 30 billion dinars. The largest of these fishery projects is currently located in Duhok province.
Recognizing the need to foster growth, the KRG's Ninth Cabinet has implemented several key policies to support these enterprises. These measures include granting customs exemptions for fishery projects and ensuring that their electricity costs are calculated at the lower agricultural rate, rather than the more expensive commercial one. The stated goal of these policies is to reduce production costs for local businesses and thereby encourage an increase in overall output.
The development of fish resources is explicitly part of the Ninth Cabinet's overarching program, which focuses on diversifying sources of income and achieving self-sufficiency across various livestock resources. The ministry's ongoing efforts, including the large-scale release of fingerlings at Dukan Dam, are aimed at bringing fish resource production to a higher level to meet these strategic objectives.
