Iran’s biotech leap into global elite club of seahorse breeders

Last week, Iran unveiled four knowledge-based fisheries products and a biotechnology plan for breeding and cultivating the Persian Gulf seahorse in Bandar Abbas, marking a new stage in the country’s marine science and aquaculture capabilities.

The announcement was made during the Fourth International Exhibition of Iran’s Maritime Industries and Seafaring, where senior officials presented a cluster of projects developed by domestic research centers and knowledge-based companies.

The unveiling marked Iran’s entry into the club of countries with the industrial-scale seahorse propagation capability and highlighted the growing role of marine biotechnology in the country’s economic strategy.

Seahorses are among the most sensitive and valuable species in marine ecosystems. Poor swimmers by nature, they depend on seaweed, coral or other fixed structures to anchor themselves. Successfully breeding and rearing them requires precise control of water quality, nutrition and biological conditions.

Iran’s ability to develop and deploy a biotechnology plan for industrial propagation reflects years of accumulated expertise in marine biology, hatchery systems and applied research.

Officials described the project as both an environmental and scientific milestone, combining biodiversity protection with research-driven production.

Alongside the seahorse initiative, four new fisheries products were unveiled, all developed through collaboration between Iranian specialists and knowledge-based companies active in aquaculture, algae processing and marine technologies.

These products include derivatives of marine algae designed for health and cosmetic applications, extending fisheries activity beyond food production into higher-value industrial uses.

According to fisheries authorities, the products are designed around sustainable use of marine resources while creating value-added outputs suitable for domestic and export markets.

The choice of Bandar Abbas as the venue was deliberate. As the capital of Hormozgan province, it sits at the heart of Iran’s southern maritime economy.

Hormozgan is the country’s largest fisheries province, benefiting from long coastlines, established ports, aquaculture infrastructure and a skilled workforce. Officials increasingly describe the province as a natural hub for the development of a sea-based economy.

The initiatives come as the global blue economy encompassing fisheries, aquaculture, marine biotechnology, shipping and coastal industries is valued at more than $2.5 trillion annually.

Also, the emphasis on knowledge-based production reflects a broader transformation underway in Iran’s fisheries sector.

The Iran Fisheries Organization has placed growing weight on commercializing domestic scientific capacity, strengthening the full value chain from marine resources to final products.

Marine agriculture sits at the centre of this shift. Globally, marine resources already supply more than one-fifth of animal protein consumed by humans, a share expected to rise steadily in the coming decades.

Iran’s extensive coastlines, more than 5,800 km across the Caspian Sea, the Persian Gulf and the Sea of Oman, provide a substantial natural platform for aquaculture, algae cultivation and related industries.

These waters support a range of activities, from shrimp and marine fish farming to hatcheries, nurseries and offshore cage systems.

Iran currently produces around 1.2 million tonnes of fisheries products each year. While capture fishing still accounts for a significant share, policy focus has increasingly shifted towards aquaculture.

Targets set by the Ministry of Agriculture Jihad aim to raise aquaculture production to more than 2 million tonnes by 2026. This expansion is designed to strengthen food supply, support exports and deepen integration with regional markets.

The commercial potential of marine algae illustrates the logic behind this strategy. Algae are no longer viewed solely as a food source; they are now key inputs for pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, biotechnology and bio-based materials.

The global algae market, already worth tens of billions of dollars, is expanding rapidly. Studies indicate that Iran’s southern coastlines particularly along the Makran region could support large-scale algae cultivation with significant economic value.

Turning tide with technology to transform Iran’s aquaculture

With access to vast water bodies—the Caspian Sea to the north, and the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman to the south—Iran holds immense potential to expand its fisheries and aquaculture industries.

Technology underpins much of this expansion. Iranian researchers and companies are deploying smart systems to monitor water quality, improve feed efficiency and optimize growth conditions.

Advances in genetics and breeding techniques are being applied to improve stock quality and resilience. Integrated cultivation systems combining fish, shellfish and algae are being explored to increase productivity while making efficient use of marine environments.

The momentum behind these initiatives is reinforced by a wave of project launches scheduled during the Ten-Day Dawn celebrations. According to the head of the Iran Fisheries Organization, 153 fisheries projects are being opened across 23 provinces.

Together, they are expected to generate more than 7,000 direct jobs and over 14,000 indirect jobs, benefiting thousands of households and adding both volume and diversity to national production.

The projects span a wide geographic and technological range. Sistan and Baluchestan leads in the number of initiatives, with projects focused on warm-water fish, ornamental species and leech farming.

Bushehr’s projects concentrate on foundational inputs such as algae, shrimp and bloodworm production, as well as port infrastructure.

Isfahan’s projects focus on cold-water and ornamental fish, while Hormozgan’s portfolio includes shrimp farming, marine hatcheries, nurseries and offshore cage aquaculture.

Other projects being inaugurated include sturgeon farming, seafood processing and packaging facilities, Artemia production, algae cultivation, live fish distribution systems, nano-bubble technologies and the expansion of fisheries activities in inland reservoirs.  

Iran’s total fisheries production has grown from just 32,000 tonnes in 1979 to nearly 1.5 million tonnes today. Over the same period, per-capita consumption of aquatic products has increased more than fourteen-fold.  

By combining marine science, knowledge-based companies and large-scale project deployment, Iran is positioning its fisheries sector as a pillar of a broader sea-based economy.  

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