The Ministry of Agriculture announced today, Saturday, the release of 155 million fish of various sizes and growth stages, as part of measures aimed at enhancing fish wealth in Iraq and mitigating the negative effects of the spread of catfish, which has become a challenge to aquatic environments and fish stocks.
The ministry's spokesperson, Qusai Al-Hatab, stated in a statement followed by the Video News Agency that catfish is one of the species that poses a danger to fish wealth, especially due to its predation on small fish, larvae, fingerlings, and newly hatched fish, indicating that this species entered Iraq via Syria and Turkey.
Al-Hatab explained that the first recorded presence of catfish in Iraq dates back to 2023, pointing to its spread in several areas, including the Al-Dlemj marshes and water bodies in the south of the country.
He added that the ministry has taken a series of measures to limit its spread, including the release of 155 million fish to support fish stocks and compensate for potential impacts, as well as setting up special traps in marsh areas, identifying its locations using the Global Positioning System (GPS), and guiding fishermen on how to deal with it.
He noted that increasing water releases from fresh water contributes to limiting the spread of this species, as it lives in stagnant and murky waters, emphasizing that the flow of large amounts of fresh water helps reduce its presence in water bodies.
In a related context, Al-Hatab confirmed that the ministry is working to turn catfish from a threat to fish wealth into an economic resource, by utilizing it for extracting fish oils and producing animal feed, as well as its potential to be included in poultry feed formulations.
He pointed out that the ministry has advised fishermen to sell this fish at appropriate prices to benefit from it in feed industries, which helps reduce its spread and protect biodiversity and fish stocks in the country.