BAKU, Azerbaijan, January 15. Azerbaijan is no
longer developing aquaculture solely as an environmental
initiative, but is increasingly prioritizing its economic potential
as part of a broader national strategy, Azerbaijan’s Minister of
Agriculture Majnun Mammadov said, Trend reports.
Speaking during a panel discussion titled “Global Leadership in
the Blue Food Security Process,” held within the framework of the
Sea the Future: 2nd Global Summit on Blue Food Security in Israel’s
Eilat region, Mammadov noted that in previous years, Azerbaijan had
approached aquaculture development mainly from the perspective of
environmental protection. While this approach remains in place,
enhancing the sector’s economic potential has now become an
integral component of the country’s development strategy.
The minister emphasized that Azerbaijan’s long-term strategy for
the development of fisheries and aquaculture aims to contribute to
national food security by protecting and sustainably developing
aquaculture resources in the Caspian Sea and inland water
bodies.
He stressed that building fisheries policy on transparent,
science-based mechanisms enables the country to safeguard
ecosystems while ensuring the efficient use of existing
resources.
Majnun Mammadov also highlighted that Azerbaijan places strong
emphasis on the application of scientific innovations, the use of
advanced technologies, and the expansion of international
cooperation in the development of fisheries and aquaculture.
Representatives of other countries speaking at the panel noted
that there is significant potential for joint scientific research
with countries that have achieved notable progress in aquaculture,
as well as for organizing training and professional development
programs and expanding trade relations and international
cooperation in the sector.
