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BAGHDAD – Fish markets are empty in the Iraqi capital after thousands of fish died in the Euphrates River.
“The mass death of fish had a great impact on us, because the ministries of health and environment say these fish are sick. For that reason no one buys fish. This has been spread across the media. People are afraid and don’t shop,” said a fishmonger in the capital’s Shawaka bazaar.
Bacterial rot, water shortages, and improper fisheries have been blamed for the deaths of thousands of fish in Babylon province earlier this month. An investigation is underway.
Masgouf is a popular fish dish.
Iraq used to import some $10 million worth of fish from Iran annually, but Baghdad banned the trade in order to boost the domestic market.
“Imports of frozen fish are allowed, but it needs the permission of the Iraqi agriculture ministry. Imports of live fish are banned, no matter where they come from,” said Sabah Nuri, CEO at the Ministry of Trade.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) recently decided to open up fish imports from Turkey and Iran to fill the gap after it banned imports from south and central Iraq.
“Our fish hatcheries provide 40-50% of market demand. To fill the rest, we import fish from other countries, especially Iran,” said Sirwan Saeed, CEO at the KRG’s agricultural ministry.
“The mass death of fish had a great impact on us, because the ministries of health and environment say these fish are sick. For that reason no one buys fish. This has been spread across the media. People are afraid and don’t shop,” said a fishmonger in the capital’s Shawaka bazaar.
Bacterial rot, water shortages, and improper fisheries have been blamed for the deaths of thousands of fish in Babylon province earlier this month. An investigation is underway.
Masgouf is a popular fish dish.
Iraq used to import some $10 million worth of fish from Iran annually, but Baghdad banned the trade in order to boost the domestic market.
“Imports of frozen fish are allowed, but it needs the permission of the Iraqi agriculture ministry. Imports of live fish are banned, no matter where they come from,” said Sabah Nuri, CEO at the Ministry of Trade.
The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG) recently decided to open up fish imports from Turkey and Iran to fill the gap after it banned imports from south and central Iraq.
“Our fish hatcheries provide 40-50% of market demand. To fill the rest, we import fish from other countries, especially Iran,” said Sirwan Saeed, CEO at the KRG’s agricultural ministry.
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