TEHRAN- Iran exported $412 million of fisheries in the past Iranian calendar year (ended on March 20), IRNA quoted Hassan Salehi, the head of Iran’s Fisheries Organization, as saying on Monday.

The country plans to increase the value of its fishery exports up to $450-$500 million by the end of the current calendar year (March 20, 2018), according to Isa Golshahi, Iran Fisheries Organization's director general for quality improvement, processing, and market development.

Over 1.05 million tons of fisheries was produced in Iran during the past calendar year, Salehi had previously said, adding it played some significant role in creation of job and income in the rural areas.

The figure is planned to reach 1.100 million tons in the current year, the official said on Monday.

After the implementation of nuclear deal with world powers in January 2016, Iranian government has focused on development of domestic fishery industry to attract foreign investments and increase the country's share of the international market, the head of Fisheries Organization said in February.

In this due, related negotiations have been done with some foreign countries such as France, Romania, Finland, Italy, China, Vietnam, Russia, and Thailand, he added.

MA/MG