Azerbaijan will double the export of black caviar by the end of the year.
Until November 2026, Azerbaijan will export 900 kg of black caviar. According to the forecast of the Director of the Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Jihon Aliyev, by the end of the year the figure will approximately double - traditionally, the main volumes of supply occur in the last months.
Speaking at the first Azerbaijan Regional Aquaculture Forum in Baku, Aliyev noted that the country's export potential is mainly related to sturgeon and black caviar, which are already sold on the world market. The state plan aims to double exports, for which it is planned to expand production.
Most sturgeon farms are switching to recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS), which allow them to regulate temperature and accelerate fish growth. Other businesses are also looking into introducing them.
Aquaculture in Azerbaijan is developing according to four models: pond farms (carp), flow systems (trout in mountain areas), RAS (sturgeon) and cage farms. New cages are created in the Mingchabir reservoir and on the beam; The prospects for aquaculture in the Caspian Sea are evaluated.
The demand for trout weighing more than 1 kg is mostly covered by imports - local production is focused on fish dishes for restaurants. In the coming years it is planned to increase trout production significantly due to government support.
The new fisheries law covers not only aquaculture, but also natural resource management and sustainability. The Center for Fisheries and Aquaculture was created by presidential decree of December 19, 2024 under the Ministry of Agriculture.