Efforts to combat overfishing and help Caspian Sea fish populations return to an optimal level will receive a boost if training workshops are held for local fishers, according to a senior environment official. Davoud Mirshekar, director of Marine Ecosystems Office at the Department of Environment, also told ISNA on Tuesday that illegal fishing in the imperiled sea has taken a hefty toll on fish populations, especially those whose roe is used as caviar. “Education and acculturation can help raise awareness and promote responsible fishing,” he said. Mireshekar said Iran’s Fisheries Organization is tasked with monitoring fishing activities in the Caspian Sea, but the organization’s outdated equipment and boats make it difficult to enforce the law. “A proposal has been made for every government entity active in protection of our seas to come together and form a joint taskforce to protect the seas and monitor fishing,” he said. “This will help assign the responsibilities properly and do the job efficiently.”
