Risk of Destruction of the Genome of 100 Fish Species in Iran Due to Lack of Funding

An official from the Iranian Fisheries Science Institute announced that the genome of over 100 fish species in Iran, which has been extracted for their identification and global registration, is at risk of being destroyed due to a "lack of funding" and is currently stored in a freezer. The genome is the genetic material containing hereditary instructions for the construction and maintenance of living organisms. Ahmad Gharqi, head of the molecular genetics group at the Fisheries Research Institute, stated in an interview that the institute has been working on a project to identify aquatic species in Iran for the purpose of "preserving biodiversity and improving breeds" for the past five years. He mentioned that the identification of aquatic species is done using DNA barcoding, and once identified, these species will be registered nationally and internationally under Iran's name. So far, 13 species of Iranian aquatic life, including 8 shrimp species and 5 fish species, have been globally registered. Gharqi noted that the Caspian Sea is home to 110 species, Iran's internal waters host 80 species, and the Oman Sea and Persian Gulf are habitats for 1,500 species of fish and aquatic life, yet these species have not had a "genetic identity and have not been registered". According to reports, the DNA barcoding method registers a genetic identifier for each species, allowing identification of the species to which each organism belongs. Gharqi also announced that biobanks have been established in research centers for aquatic resources in various cities to develop this project. However, he added that currently, the genomes of over 100 fish species have been extracted, and while further steps are needed, the samples remain in the freezer due to a lack of funding, posing a risk of deterioration. He emphasized that this project is being implemented for the first time in Iran but is not receiving financial support and lacks sustainability.