Economic and social assessment of fish farming in cages in the southern Caspian Sea

This study aimed to assess the social, economic and fish farming in cages in the Southern Caspian Sea. The Caspian Sea is considered as one of the most important water resources of Iran, in which due to the appropriate weather conditions in the north of the country, has the potential for marine aquaculture. With the implementation of this plan would say that with respect to the proposed initial selection from Kheshtsar in Mazandaran province and Kiashahr in Guilan province with along coastline of about 250 km from the depth of 20 to 100 meters and an the area of about 2027km^2 has the cage aquaculture talent. Of course, at the depths of greater than 100 M by using the world technology procedure, there is also the possibility of the establishment of marine cage aquaculture. Now, with the regards of the above potential in the Caspian Sea coastline, it is expected at least 200 cages fish sites farming in with the establishment of 40 cages per site and produce 160,000 tons with creating of 1,000 direct jobs and 2,000 indirect jobs and income 2000 billion gross annual average net profit of 40% could be 800 billion in which will produce of proteins needed part of the country, creating jobs, welfare, prosperity and economy in the region. With the implementation of such national project, it is needed to establish pilot farms to reach the goals: environmental assessment studies, risk assessment, aquatic selection and the use of appropriate cage structures according to ecological conditions of southern Caspian Sea