Aral Sea brine shrimp joint project starts in Uzbekistan


Uzbek TV
August 7

The implementation of an Uzbek-US-Russian joint project, Aral Invest, to breed and fish brine shrimps (Artemia salina) in the saline waters of the Aral Sea has successfully started in the northwest of Uzbekistan, Uzbek TV reported on 7 August.

"The implementation of a major investment project, Aral Invest, for processing artemia, with the participation of US and Russian partners, has successfully started in Karakalpakstan," the TV report said. It said that brine shrimps, which can tolerate highly saline waters, were an economically valuable product as the primary food for rare types of crayfish and exotic fish and could contribute to Uzbekistan's export potential.

In an interview with the programme, the director-general of the Aral Invest joint venture, V. Sevastyanov, said that the fishing and processing of the shrimps would start this autumn.

"The bulk of artemia reserves are currently concentrated in the eastern part of the Aral Sea. But the western part is the most promising, since that part is the deepest. We imagine that, in two years' time, the fishing will mainly be carried out in the western part. According to experts, it [the Aral Sea] is the world's largest reserve of artemia. By the end of this year, we will install shrimp-processing equipment. The first commercial shrimp fishing will be carried out this autumn and during the 2002-2003 winter season," Sevastyanov said.