North Ossetia boosting rare fish species farming

Ardonsky salmon farming plant based in the North Ossetia (Russia's region in the North Caucasis bordering on Georgia) plans to boost its production capacity in next three year period and increase the production volume four times.

According to company's director Mr. Alimbek Gutiev, quoted by ITAR-TASS, such plans became feasible thanks to financial support from the Federal budget, more specifically RUB 80 million will be invested into the company's facilities in the coming years and at present, the plant has already received RUB13 million investment and this helped to define the prospects of further development.

At present, 25 new ponds for Caspian salmon juveniles farming have been launched and this will help to increase production volume to 800, 000 individuals (for comparison, the volume reached 200,000 individuals in the past).
According to the company, in 2008 they plan to release about 180,000 fishes of Caspian salmon juveniles and trout into the rivers of the North Ossetia.

From 2008 to 2010 the company plans to invest money in farming of sturgeon species and Caspian inconnu (Stenodus leucichthys leucichthys ), the species enlisted in the Red Book. In 2009 RUB 21 million will be invested in reconstruction of the facility and in 2010 further RUB32 million will be invested and these funds will go to building 25 new facilities and a reservoir.