ERBIL, Kurdistan Region: The Iraqi agriculture ministry on Friday announced the annual fishing ban will come to an end on July 1, a decision taken to increase the fish population.

Fishing in southern provinces is prohibited from February 15 to April 15, in central provinces from February 15 to May 1, and in Kirkuk and Nineveh provinces, the ban will take effect from March 15 to July 1.

“Violators of these instructions will be subject to penalties, Hatem Faisal al-Jubouri, assistant director general of the Animal Resources Department for Fish Affairs at the Agriculture Ministry, told the state media. 

Jabouri added that “the purpose of this decision is to protect fish stocks and provide fish with the opportunity to grow and reproduce."

He added that this mechanism will be implemented as announced.

“The governors' offices, security agencies, and the Ministry of Interior monitor the ban.

Fishing in Iraq has a long tradition, deeply rooted in the country’s history and culture. 

The Tigris and Euphrates rivers, as well as a large number of southern marshes, have historically provided fertile grounds for fish populations, supporting fishing communities.

The agriculture ministry official explained that "the annual production of carp fingerlings ranges between 30 and 35 million, while the production of Iraqi fish ranges between two to three million.”

Water scarcity has been a long-standing and critical issue for Iraq, exacerbated by upstream dams constructed by Turkey along the Tigris and Euphrates rivers. These dams have significantly reduced water flow into Iraq, intensifying the country’s existing water shortages.