DUSHANBE, December 24, 2009, Asia-Plus  -- A new modern fishery technology – exploitation of fishpond lines – has been introduced in Tajikistan for the first time, Muzaffar Mirzoyev, the head of the livestock, poultry, fishery and bee-keeping department within the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), said in an interview with Asia-Plus.

According to him, two fishpond lines have been installed in the Norak reservoir under financial support of the UN FAO CO in Tajikistan.  A total cost of the project is 25,000 U.S. dollars.

We will recall that FAO''s governing Council  unanimously approved the creation of a new regional fisheries management body for the Central Asia and Caucasus region in October 2009.  Its mission is to work regionally to promote the development, conservation, rational management and best utilization of living aquatic resources and the sustainable development of aquaculture in its member countries.  The FAO-affiliated commission potential members include Armenia, Azerbaijan, People''s Republic China, Georgia, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russian Federation, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.  The first preparatory meeting of the Commission is already scheduled to take place in September 2010 in Kyrgyzstan.

The collapse of the Soviet Union had a tremendous negative effect on fish production in Central Asia and the Caucasus, with fisheries production plummeting dramatically, sometimes but as much as 98 percent.  This had a negative impact not only on the livelihoods of families involved in fisheries, but had dietary impacts as well.  Fish consumption in the region shrank from five to less than one kilogram per capita per year. (Global average fish consumption today is around 16 kg/pc/yr.)  Talks began in 2008 among concerned governments regarding creating a new commission that would promote trans-boundary cooperation on fisheries and aquaculture development. FAO helped organize the discussions and provided technical advice and guidance to participating countries.