Uzbekistan intends to significantly increase fish production volumes, bringing the annual figure to one million tons. To achieve this goal, modern aquaculture enterprises will be established in various regions, and infrastructure for processing and warehouse construction will also be developed.
President Shavkat Mirziyoyev reviewed the submitted projects concerning the development of fish farming. One such project is the implementation in the Balykchin district, where irrigation wells are planned to be used for fish cultivation.
Specialized complexes are planned to be built around twenty-four wells. These facilities will cover the entire production cycle: from growing fry and preparing the feed base to subsequent processing, storage, and sale of fish. The area of each such complex will be fifty acres, and each facility is expected to produce at least thirty tons of trout annually and create ten jobs.
It is planned that the experience gained will be scaled up to other territories of the country. By March 1, 2027, state bodies will inspect more than four thousand irrigation wells across the country. Facilities deemed suitable for fish farming will be transferred to private entrepreneurs based on public-private partnerships.
Additionally, initiatives are being considered for cultivating and processing cold-water fish in Khanabad, as well as developing fish farms on the reservoirs of Ulugnor. To effectively coordinate all new projects, it is proposed to establish a specialized fisheries holding.
The state commits to providing financial support for these projects and covering the costs of training local residents in modern fish breeding methods. Previously, the creation of a Fish Farming Development Center was announced, which will oversee the industry, allowing fish farms to pre-approve water usage limits for the season.
