More than 5 million fish released into Bahr Al-Najaf marsh to boost local stocks

NAJAF — The Directorate of Animal Resources in Najaf released more than 5 million fish into the Al-Fat’ha marsh within the Bahr Al-Najaf area, officials said Tuesday, as part of a national effort to replenish Iraq’s inland fish stocks and support food security.

The batch included a mix of common carp, grass carp, shabut, and gattan species, with most provided by the Al-Suwaira Fish Hatchery, according to a statement from the Najaf Agriculture Directorate. The release was supervised by agricultural authorities in the governorate.

The distribution included 4.8 million newly hatched common carp, 250,000 grass carp fingerlings measuring about two inches each, and 4,300 fingerlings of gattan and shabut, ranging from one to two inches.

Officials said another fish release is planned in the coming days to further support the local fishery sector and help meet rising market demand.

Anbar’s Directorate of Agriculture also released 10 million juvenile and larval carp into Haditha Dam as part of an initiative to strengthen fish resources and support local food security.