Economic analysis of sturgeon fingerling production in Iran

Abstract

This study was conducted to provide procedures for increasing the productivity and profitability of sturgeon culture in Iran. We designed a questionnaire covering economic and ecologic aspects of the activity and distributed it to an expert team comprised economists, statisticians and aquaculturist experts. The team completed the questionnaires to determine the costs of production of a single sturgeon fingerling in Iran, considering all sturgeon centers. Also, documents avaiable in different sections of Iranian Fisheries, specially, accounting, budgeting and stock enhancement offices were resorted to. Cost of labour comprised 55% of expenditures whereas costs of feeding and fertilizer were found to be 14%. The maintenance cost was assessed as 7% and fertilized eggs cost was 6%. Results showed that on average, the production cost of a single sturgeon fingerling in Iran in the year 2000 was 992 Ris. Among all of the sturgeon breeding centers in Iran, Shahid Rajaee Aquaculture center had the lowest cost of production with 477 Ris., while Shahid Beheshty center had the highest cost amounting to 1224 Ris. The cost of labour has a large share in total expenditures, somewhat caused by the centernot being active for six months each year. Tasking the labour force with other activities might reduce the total costs in such hatcheries.