FI:TCP/IRA/6755
Field Document 3
January 1989
ISLAMIC REPUBLIC OF IRAN
TRAINING COURSE IN COLDWATER FISH CULTURE
TABLE OF CONTENTS

T E C H N I C A L   C O O P E R A T I O N   P R O G R A M M E

Lectures delivered at Kalerdasht salmonid hatchery, Iran
18 January-3 March 1988

edited by

D. Edwards
Consultant


This report was prepared during the course of the project identified on the title page. The conclusions and recommendations given in the report are those considered appropriate at the time of its preparation. They may be modified in the light of further knowledge gained at subsequent stages of the project.

The designations employed and the presentation of the material in this document do not imply the expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of the United Nations or the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations concerning the legal or constitutional status of any country, territory or sea area, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers.

INTRODUCTION

The Islamic Republic of Iran has an established coldwater fish culture industry in both the private and public sectors, centred in the northern mountains close to the Caspian Sea and in other high areas of the country. Rainbow trout (Salmo gairderi) are grown to a market size of 250 g and above in conventional farms, predominantly using concrete raceways. Official 1987 production was 1 750 t from 20 licensed farms, but it is thought that unlicensed farms contribute about a further 1 000 t to the true total. The “Caspian salmon”, actually an anadromous trout (Salmo trutta), is grown in hatcheries to a size of 1–20 g before being released into the rivers and streams draining into the Caspian Sea.

Demand for trout in Iran greatly exceeds domestic production. Consequently the Government is currently supporting a major programme to increase salmonid output, both by building state-owned hatcheries and on-growing units and by providing licences, land and juvenile fish to private farmers. Extension advice is also available through the Shilat (State fishery company). However, this rapid expansion of coldwater fish culture has resulted in a national shortage of trained people capable of managing trout farms or of providing an efficient extension service. In addition, there is a need for technical staff already actively working in the industry to update their knowledge.

As no universities or colleges in Iran are presently equipped to offer specialized training in this field, the Government of the Islamic Republic of Iran requested FAO assistance in organizing and staffing a theoretical and practical training course in coldwater fish culture. Funding was agreed under FAO's Technical Cooperation Programme (project TCP/IRA/6755). The course for 25 trainees, all of whom were already employed in the trout farming industry as managers, technicians or extension workers, or were intending to become involved in the near future, was held at the Kalerdasht Coldwater Fish Hatchery from 18 January to 3 March 1988.

The main problems facing trout farmers in Iran are a lack of knowledge about up-to-date technologies and culture practices, insufficient information on and supply of good quality feeds, hygiene and disease control issues, and the absence of a scientifically based strategy for genetic improvement of the fish stocks. The course at Kalerdasht was therefore divided into four separate parts reflecting these areas of expertise, and FAO assigned four specialist consultants, each with considerable experience in one of these fields, as teachers. The consultants were ably assisted by local fisheries experts of the Shilat company, who also provided simultaneous translation of lectures into Farsi.

During the course, the teachers prepared an approximate written text of their lectures in English. This was translated into Farsi for distribution to the Iranian trainees. Since the problems of trout culture in Iran are very similar to those confronted by coldwater fish culturists in other countries of the region and therefore of general interest, the original English-language versions of the lecture texts are reproduced here.

FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION OF THE UNITED NATIONS
Rome, 1989


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TABLE OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

Chapter 1: Technological Aspects of Coldwater Fish Culture

by David Edwards

Chapter 2: Genetics

by Zoltán Krasznai

Chapter 3: Salmonid Foods and Feeding

by Jan Holick

Chapter 4: Hygiene and Disease in Salmonid Culture

by Tibor Takács