(Zawya) Some 200,000 tons of tuna fish will be produced in the current Iranian year (started March 20), said head of Iran Fishery Organization.
Gholamreza Razeqi told Mehr News Agency on Saturday that some 170,000 tons of tuna fish were produced in the past Iranian year, showing a significant increase compared to the figure for the year before which was 139,000 tons.
The official said that about 60,000 tons and 40,000 tons of tuna fish were imported to the country in the years to March 2010 and March 2011 respectively, adding that the figure is expected to drop to 30,000 tons in the current year.
He said that given the current capacity of domestic canned tuna factories, Iran requires 230,000 tons of tuna fish annually.
Razeqi said if the current positive trend continues, Iran will be capable to export tuna fish in the ending years of the Fifth Five-Year Economic Development Plan (2010-15).