ERBIL — The Kurdistan Region’s largest and most ambitious aquaculture project is in Kazke village within the Faida sub-district of Duhok province. 

Supported by the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), the project represents a key investment in the Region’s agricultural and food production sector.

The large-scale fishery aims to fulfill domestic demand and expand to export levels. Upon completion of its first phase, the facility is projected to produce 21 million fingerlings and 1,200 tons of fish meat annually, according to a statement from the fishery’s management.

“This fishery is a strategic project that complements agricultural production in the Kurdistan Region,” said Shukri Omar, director of the facility. “No fishery in the Kurdistan Region or Iraq has ever been built with this level of advanced technology.”

Covering 229 dunams (56.6 acres), the facility includes a hatchery, laboratory, and fish cages. The project is a vital part of the KRG’s ninth cabinet plan to boost local production and diversify the Region’s economy.