Ashgabat, 1 October 2010 – Residents of the Caspian settlements of Chekishlyar, Garagel, Belek and Gyzylsuw of Balkan province enlarged their knowledge and get professional consultation on duck and fish breeding in local conditions in the course of the seminar in Garagel settlement. This seminar is a part of activities organized by the joint project of the UN Development Program, Global Environment Facility and the Ministry of Nature Protection of Turkmenistan with the objective to support alternative activities among local people to reduce anthropogenic pressure on biological resources of the Caspian Sea.

The seminar was attended by the representatives of Garagel administration, the State Committee on Fishery, the Turkmen Agricultural University and the Hazar Reserve.

At the seminar Head of the animal breeding department of the Agricultural University Myrat Rejepgulyev made a presentation on methods of duck breeding, the most fast growing and high yielding birds easily adapting to different climatic conditions. Presentation on methods of artificial fish breeding was presented by the deputy director of the Hazar Reserve Berdy Berdyev. According to him, artificial fish breeding and aquaculture development can be a very promising activity in Caspian settlements and facilitate sustainable development as well as conservation of biological resources of the Caspian Sea. This presentation drew attention of the head of Garagel settlement, who also participated at the seminar and expressed willingness to support the development of this area in his settlement.

Participants of the seminar were also informed on the activities carried out by the Hazar reserve among Caspian settlements on raising awareness on environment protection and involving local people in the activities on conservation and sustainable joint use of biological resources of the Caspian.

At the end of the seminar, by tradition all the participants received guides on fish and duck breeding. Those residents working with poultry suggested to organize a study tour to one of the small poultry farms to enlarge their experience and scale up their activities.

Choosing participants for a seminar, the project gives particular importance to gender equality among the participants. At this seminar women made a 50% of all participants. Working with local people the project tries to provide equal opportunities for men and women in developing their own communities and to promote ownership over the resources in implementing their activities.