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Fisheries and Aquaculture Activities in Kurdistan Region
Firas Abdul Malik

Introduction:
The total population of Kurdistan Region is about 4.9 million. The
Kurdistan Region consist of Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimania
Governorates with Garmian Administration (KFC, 2014).
Fish Activity in Kurdistan region begins in 1960 when entered
common carp fish to Dokan dam and Darbandikhan, did not come
after that any economically an important experience until 1999,
where the Food and Agriculture organization the establishment of
two projects for fish one in Erbil and the other in Sulaimania,
projects contain a hatchery for artificial reproduction of the species
(common carp, silver carp and grass carp ), (Srhnk, 2012) the project
contain the number of model fish pond the purpose of these model
ponds is for demonstration and training, as well as the Food and
Agriculture Organization establishment of 6 model fish pond in the
Agriculture College in Duhok governorate purpose of these model
ponds is for demonstration and training, as well as the organization2

Has distributed hand size fish to farmers who are found in has
farm small ponds its establishment for the purpose of storing water
as well as irrigation ,which is the first step to teach farmers in the
Kurdistan region , profession raising fish, which is a new profession
on the region (MAWR,2014).
Some estimates state that the total quantities of fish production
(fisheries and river fishing) reached about 4.300 ton. The
production, however, was affected by a number of factors, like
fishermen’s non-compliance with fishing prohibitions during
breeding season, in addition to fodder shortages, and insufficient
monitoring. Available statistics indicate that there are 930 fisheries
in the Region, most of which are fish farms. (MA, 2014; FAO,2009;
FAO,2012).
3
Introduction:

Table (1): Kurdistan Population (MP, 2013).
Kurdistan Population 2007
Erbil Sulaimania Duhok Total
2019688 1917936 973118 4.910.742
Sources of Water:
The Sources of water in Kurdistan include:
A. Rainfall and Snow 300 up to 1000 mm / year.
B. Surface Water (Rivers, Streams & Springs). (30 BCM)
Billion cubic meters…..(12 BCM) %40 outside of
Kurdistan…(18 BCM) 60% inside of Kurdistan (Khabur ,
Greater Zab, Lesser Zab, Sirwan & Awa Spi (Uthaim))
C. Ground water and subsurface water (Deep wells &
shallow wells) - around 19000 deep wells. 4

Figure (1): Average total annual precipitation (MAWR,20153).

Table (2): Kurdistan Tributaries Production (Annual Flow)
(FAO,2012).
6
Rivers Length
(KM)
Annual
flow M3
% outside
of
Kurdistan
% inside
of
Kurdistan
Khabour 160 2.2 58 42
Greater Zab 392 14.3 42 58
Lesser Zab 400 7.07 36 64
Awa Spi 230 0.7 0 100
Sirwan 384 5.86 59 41
Total
Amount of
Water
30.15 40.2 59.8

Duhok Dam Dokan Dam
DarbandiKhan Dam
Figure (2): Kurdistan Major Dams. (MAWR,2014). 7

8
Table (3): Different Fish breeding methods in Duhok
Governorate-Northern Kurdistan (KFC,2014)
No. Project Type Project Number
1 Ground Ponds 301
2 Concrete Ponds 7
3 Floating Cages Projects 5
4 Floating Cage Number 48
5 Fish Breeders Number 12

Figure (3): Kurdistan Major Rivers. (FAO,2012). 9

1- Cyprinus carpio
(common carp)
2- Silurus triostegus
(Asian Djirri)
10
Fish Catch: Species caught in Kurdistan:

3- Barbus grypus
(Shabbout)
4- Barbus esocinus
(Bizz)
11

5- Liza abu
(Khishni)
6- Aspias vorax
(Shilik)
12

7- Barbus sharpeyi
(Bunni)
8- Cyprinion macrostomus
(Bunni Kaper)
13

9- Barbus luteus
(Himri)
10- Mastacembelus
mastacembelus
(Marmaritc)
(Salbouh Abu Sian)
14

11- Carassius carassius
(Shokhatt)
12- Barbus xanthopterus
(Gattan)
15

13- Condrostoma regium
(Baloot Muluki)
14- Barbus belayewi
(Toueni,Birtein)
16

Kurdistan Region Government fiats
/Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources
to support & improve the fisheries resources
1. Distributing (1262) ton of diets for fish breeding projects
which contain about (50%) from diet coast-about (753
million Iraqi Dinars).
2. Producing about (654470) fingerlings from Erbil &
Sulaimania hatcheries with supported price (25
ID/fingerling).
3. Distributing (48) fish floating cages for (12) fishermen in
Duhok governorate in supported coats in (75%) which
reached about (186 million Iraqi Dinars) .
4. Release (100.000) fingerlings to Dams.
(KFC, 2014).
17

Gear used in Kurdistan:
Fishing gears. (FAO,2012).
1. Gillnets.
2. Hand grenades.
3. Dynamite.
4. Electro fishing.
18
Fish species farmed in Kurdistan
1- Cyprinus carpio
2- Ctenopharyngodon idellus
3- Hypophthalmichthys molitrix
4- Salmon
18

Fishing vessels:
Erbil, Duhok and Sulaimania Governorates with Garmian
Administration Gillnets.
Table (4): Fishing vessels in Kurdistan Region
# Governorate Fishing vessels Total Kind of motors
19
Motorboat Non-Motorized used
boat
1 Erbil 150 60 210 Johnson - Yamaha
-
Mercur -
horsepower
range from 8 hp to
55 hp
2 Sulaimania 235 78 313
3 Duhok 70 23 93
4 Garmian
Administration
165 80 245
Grand total 2855 2285 861 (FAO,2012).

Locations: Fishing locations in Kurdistan
region mostly spread in the dam locations
Table (5): Fishing locations (FAO,2012).
20
Aquatic body Governorate
and Location
Water area
/ donam
Dokan dam Lake Sulaimania 76000 Donam
Darbandikhan dam Lake Garmian
Administration
36000 Donam
Mosul dam Lake Duhok 135000 Donam
Khabour Duhok 160 Km length
Greater Zab Erbil 392 Km length
Lesser Zab Erbil 400 Km length
Awa Spi Garmian
Administration
230 Km length
Sirwan Garmian
Administration
384 Km length

People involved:
Most of the fishermen in Kurdistan do not have official
licenses and aged between 15-20 years, as well as fishing is
not considered important profession in Kurdistan region
because of the nature and style of this region where fish is
not of the main meals in the region, women do not work in
the profession of fishing, most fishermen are illiterate,
number of fishermen in Kurdistan governorates (930)
fishermen.
21
# Governorate No. of fishermen
1 Erbil 220
2 Sulaimania 335
3 Duhok 104
4 Garmian
Administration
271
total 930
Table (6): Number
of fishermen in
Kurdistan.
(FAO,2012).

Trading/Marketing:
There are no private markets in the Kurdistan region to fish
sell as it exists in the central and southern governorates, fish
sold in small shops within the vegetables & meat markets,
There are no minutes statistics on the quantities marketed to
the absence of a Statistics, but according to estimates by the
Ministry of Agriculture in Kurdistan of inland production of
1500 tons of fish annually (MAWR,2014).
Law regulating the exploitation and protection of aquatic life
(Law No. 48 of 1976). (FAO,2012). Closed seasons have been
implemented for inland fishing in various areas in Kurdistan
Region These periods extend from: April 1 to June 15.
22
Policies/legislation affecting activities

Management initiatives, enforcement,
implementing body:
There are no private associations and cooperatives of
fishermen, the responsible on the implementation and
application of these laws and conventions and instructions
are the General Directorate of animal resources and
Veterinary belonging to the Ministry of Agriculture in
cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior in Kurdistan
region. (FAO,2012).
23

Table (6): Number of fish project and water area in Erbil.
(FAO,2012).
24

Table (7): Number of fish project and water area in Sulaimania.
(FAO,2012).
25

Table (8): Number of fish project and water area in Duhok.
(FAO,2012).
26

Table (9): Number of fish project and water area in Garmian.
(FAO,2012).
27

1.Most fish projects unfortunately depend on well
water to be high establishment cost as well as the
production cost, because the filling ponds require
energy which redoubles the production cost that
50% of these projects only work.
2. The high cost of production because of the
mountainous nature.
3. The adoption of the projects on groundwater
which may be few nutrients and dissolved oxygen
which causes the limited of production and the
spread of diseases that are difficult to treatment.
28
Conclusions:

Recommendations:
1. Better management and utilization of natural resources
and the employment of manpower and financial resources
for development of aquaculture in the region.
2. Further diversification of the species cultured.
3. Further research on techniques to increase the
productivity of a given volume of water.
4. Additional improvement of the balanced fish feeds
produced in the region.
5. Developing the fish breeders skills by opening
workshops.
6. Establishment of specialized syndicates or associations
for fish & fishing. 29

References:
Al-Doori, I. E. (1979). Fundamentals and principles of agricultural policy in
Iraq Government Advertising and Printing Corporation, Baghdad.
Cooley, J. K. (1992). Middle East water: Power for peace. Middle East Policy
1, no. 2 1-15.
FAO, (1998). The state of the world’s plant genetic resources for food and
agriculture. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United
Nations, Rome, Italy. Pp. 510.
FAO/Regional Commission for Fisheries. (2009). Report of the Regional
Technical Workshop on Aquatic Animal Health. Jeddah, Kingdom of
Saudi Arabia, 6–10 April 2008. FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture
Report. No. 876. Rome, FAO. 2009. 119 pp.
FAO.(2012) . Aquaculture topics and activities. Aquaculture. In: FAO
Fisheries and Aquaculture Department [online]. Rome. FAO. Cited
www.fao.org/fishery/aquaculture/en. FAO. Fisheries and
Aquaculture Department, National Aquaculture Sector Overview -
Iraq. 30

References:
(KFS).http://www.kurdistanfoodsecurity.com/.(2014). Kurdistan: Food
Security, Food Safety,Agriculture,Water, Livestock.
Mhalhal, A. (1967). Agriculture extension, Ministry of Agriculture,
Baghdad. Pp. 89.
MA.(2014). Ministry of Agriculture General Directorate of Fisheries in
Iraq.
MP.(2013) Ministry of Planning General Directorate of Statistics in Iraq.
MAWR.(2013) Ministry of Agriculture & Water Resources. Opportunities
for Investment in Agriculture Sector in Kurdistan Region – Iraq
Projects For Investors. Kurdistan Region Government.pdf 19-40pp.
MAWR.(2014).Ministry of Agriculture and Water Resources. General
Directorate of animal resources and Veterinary in Kurdistan Region.
Srhnk ,Nawzad Tawfiq .(2012). Regional Development Strategy for
Kurdistan Region 2012-2016. Kurdistan Regional Government.
Consultant Engineer .D. G of Strategic Planning.pdf.215pp.
31

Thanks
Firas Abdul Malik
Department of Animal Production

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Fisheries and Aquaculture Activities in Kurdistan Region

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