Azerbaijan takes stance on Kazakhstan’s appeal for moratorium on commercial sturgeon fishing in Caspian

BAKU. December 12. KAZINFORM  The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan issued statement on the appeal of Kazakhstan's Ministry of Agriculture for temporary moratorium on the commercial fishing of sturgeons in the Caspian. Every Caspian littoral state has a right to unilaterally refuse fully or partly the national quote of commercial fishing of sturgeons, said the statement, press service of the ministry told APA. "Regarding the proposal of Kazakhstan, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan states that the commercial fishing of sturgeons can finally be banned after the signing of unilateral agreement on increasing and protection of resources of these fishes", Kazinform cites APA.

Azerbaijan voluntarily refused the quote of fishing the spiny sturgeon for 30 years. At the 30th meeting of the Caspian Water Bio-Resources Commission in the Iranian city of Bender Enzeli on July 15-16, 2009, Azerbaijan declared its refusal of quote for fishing of one more sturgeon species. Azerbaijan uses quotes for two species only.

Azerbaijan is also investigating the issue of ban on commercial fishing of the nosey sturgeon.

The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Azerbaijan calls on other Caspian littoral states to refuse the commercial fishing of all endangered species of the sturgeon,  Kazinform refers to APA.

See www.en.apa.az