This year, the state allocated 500 million tenge for the project to preserve the North Aral Sea.

The cracked section of the Kokaral dam in the Kyzylorda region, which divides the Aral Sea, is being re-strengthened. This year, the state allocated 500 million tenge for the project to preserve the North Aral Sea.

More than 200 meters of the dam, which was called the construction of the century, were in danger of losing the Small Aral. According to experts, the work to strengthen the dam was started on time. At the meeting of fishermen, held in this sea region, the topic of preserving the Small Aral, as well as a number of projects for the development of fisheries, was discussed.

Today, over 700 fishermen in the area make their living from the sea. There are 10 fish factories in the region. Currently, scientists are working on the restoration of corals in the North Aral Sea.

Interview with Maira Kalymbetova, researcher of the Aral branch of “RPC of Fisheries” LLP, dedicated to the work with the Aral barbel in the North Aral Sea

(с) National TV channel “Qazaqstan”

International scientific conference “”Science, art and education through the prism of public-private partnership in the new conditions”” dedicated to the 30th anniversary of the Caspian Public University was held at Caspian University, the purpose of which was to unite the efforts of scientists, artists, representatives of business, industry and government agencies to strengthen a single scientific and cultural space and develop proposals for solving urgent problems of our time in the field of ecology and the environment. 

At the invitation of the organizing committee, Adyrbekova K.B., Acting Head of the Laboratory of Hydrobiont Genetics, took part in the conference, where she made a presentation on the topic “Genetic studies of hydrobionts in Kazakhstan” in the section “Science and Technology”, at the session “Problems of ecology caused by global challenges”.

The conference was also attended by experts, scientists, representatives of government agencies, industry, non-governmental public organizations and business communities.

October 13, 2022, . the second day the meeting of the Academic Council of the “RPC of Fisheries” LLP is continuous.

On the agenda, consideration and approval of annual (interim) reports on R&D for 2022 under the Scientific and Technical Program: 

STP “Complex assessment of the state of fish resources and other hydrobionts of the main fishing water reservoirs of Kazakhstan and the development of evidence-based recommendations for their sustainable use”. Head of STP – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Isbekov K.B

These studies are carried out by order of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MEGNR RK).

The following tasks of the project were considered: valuation of water biological resources and ecosystem services,Increasing the fish productivity of fishery reservoirs through the introduction and reintroduction of fish and hydrobionts, study of populations of rare and endangered fish species and alien hydrobionts, development of improvement and justification of the optimal set of fishing gear, assessment of the role of recreational fishing, ecological and genetic monitoring of sturgeon species, development of recommendations for the certification of Artemia cysts, distribution of the population of the Caspian seal in the Kazakhstani part of the Caspian Sea during the period of sea level decrease and development of recommendations for the conservation of habitats of the species.

The interim results of this year correspond to the implementation of the plan for the scientific and technical program, all target indicators were achieved with overfulfillment, the results of all these works were assessed positively. The following people took part in the discussions:

• Ismukhanov Kh.K., Candidate of Biol.Sci., Leading Researcher of “RPC of Fisheries” LLP;  
• Rysbaev A.Zh., Chairman of the Board of the Republican Association of Fisheries and Aquaculture “Qazaq balyk”;
• Aladin N.V., Doctor of Biological Sciences, Head of the Laboratory of Brackish Water Research at the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg.

Today, under the chairmanship of the General Director, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Ass.Prof. Isbekov K.B. a meeting of the Coordinating and Academic Councils of the “RPC of Fisheries” LLP is being held to review and approve the annual (interim) reports on R&D for 2022 under the Scientific and Technical Programs:

• STP “Scientific and technological support for the integrated development of aquaculture in Kazakhstan through the development and implementation of innovative technologies and new fish farming facilities”. Head of STP – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Asylbekova S.Zh.;
• STP “Complex assessment of the state of fish resources and other hydrobionts of the main fishing water reservoirs of Kazakhstan and the development of evidence-based recommendations for their sustainable use”. Head of STP – Doctor of Biological Sciences, Associate Professor Isbekov K.B.

These studies are carried out by order of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (MEGNR RK). The following persons take part in the meeting:

• Representatives of the customer, the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Ecology, Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan (online);
• Representatives of the territorial inspection of fisheries (online);
• Scientists from all divisions of the “RPC of Fisheries” LLP (online and offline);
• Also, all interested, pre-registered persons take part in the online meeting.

Within the frame of STP “Scientific and technological support for the integrated development of aquaculture in Kazakhstan through the development and implementation of innovative technologies and new fish farming facilities” positive results were obtained in the field of genetics of fish and invertebrate hydrobionts, and the fodder bases of reservoirs were evaluated. Work was continued in the field of improving breeding technologies and creating rearing stocks of rare endemic fish both in the country’s natural waters and in conditions of artificial breeding. An assessment of the genetic polymorphism of sturgeon fish species was given. Standard technologies have been developed for the creation and operation of lake-commodity farms, technologies for creating artificial and live food for valuable species of fish and other hydrobionts are being introduced. 

The following persons spoke in the discussion of this STP:

• Representative of the “Association of Fisheries – BD” in the East Kazakhstan region, Anuarbekov S.M.;
• Chief Specialist of the Laboratory of Molecular Genetics of the FGBNU “VNIRO”, Volkov A.A.;
• Professor of the Department of Aquatic Bioresources and Aquaculture of the State Agrarian University of the Northern Trans-Urals, Russian Federation, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Litvinenko A.I. 
• Head of the Laboratory of Brackish Water Research of the Zoological Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences in St. Petersburg, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Aladin N.V.

Within the framework of the NTP «Complex assessment of the state of fish resources and other hydrobionts of the main fishing water reservoirs of Kazakhstan and the development of evidence-based recommendations for their sustainable use» discussions will be continued at the next meeting.

Expeditionary team of the laboratory of ichthyology “RPC of Fisheries” LLP, consisting of: the head of the expeditionary team Karlybayuly S., junior researcher Pangereev B., senior laboratory assistant Igilik R., performs research on the lakes of the Alakol system: Sasykkol, Koshkarkol and Alakol.

The work is carried out within the budget program 256 “Management, ensuring of conservation and development of forest resources and wildlife”, under the subprogram 102 “Ensuring the conservation, reproduction and rational use of wildlife resources”.

The detachment investigates the autumn migration of fish, the catch of commercial fish species with scientific fishing gear, and keeps records of the catches of nature users in the assigned fishing areas. The research continues.

The 1st Central Asian Forum of manufacturers of high-tech laboratory solutions “Lab-Quryltai 2022” was held in Almaty. The organizer of the forum is Micro Solutions LLP, a professional integrator of laboratory solutions that has been operating since 2016 in 8 countries of Central Asia. 

Employees of the Research and Production Center for Fisheries LLP were also invited to this event: head of the laboratory of hydrobiont genetics Adyrbekova K.B., senior researcher and researcher of the laboratory of hydrobiology and hydroanalysts Dolgopolova S.Yu., Mұқatai A.A., who took part in the work of the session “General chemistry (toxicology, pharmaceuticals, ecology, food, heavy and oil industry)” and “Molecular diagnostics and genetics”.

The plenary session considered the following issues:

• High quality chemical reagents for accurate results and analytical studies;
• Planning for equipping chemical laboratories according to European standards;
• Modern methods of genetic research of the “CeGaT” laboratory, Germany.

At the end of the forum, participants were awarded certificates.

On September 26, 2022, a training seminar began at “RPC of Fisheries” LLP: “Modern methods for researching the ecological and biological characteristics of Artemia branchiopods and evaluating the quality of cysts”. 

The seminar was organized within the grant project of the Ministry of Education and Science of the Republic of Kazakhstan (young scientists): “Study of an export-oriented bioresource – Artemia franciscana to develop a biological rationale for their introduction, in order to increase the productivity of salt reservoirs of the Republic of Kazakhstan”. The speakers of the seminar are: professors of the Department of Aquatic Bioresources and Aquaculture of the Northern Trans-Ural State Agricultural University, Russian Federation Litvinenko A.I. and Litvinenko L.I.

The following topics are discussed in the seminar program:

• Determination of the production characteristics of the parthenogenetic population of Artemia;
• Ways to increase the survival rate of brine shrimp juveniles under cultivation conditions;
• Features of growing and increasing the productivity of mature crustaceans;
• Ways to increase the productivity of natural artemia reservoirs;
• Methods of population differentiation and identification;
• Features of determining the morphometric parameters of artemia;
• The most acceptable statistical processing programs;
• Study of the food spectrum of artemia in natural reservoirs;
• Optimal types of feed for artificial cultivation of Artemia;
• Methods for enriching the food base of artemia in natural reservoirs;
• Veterinary and sanitary standards for Artemia cysts;
• Methods for studying artemia for the content of pathogenic organisms;
• New approaches for determining Approximate allowable level and/or Maximum allowable level;
• Assessment of the quality of Artemia cysts.

The seminar is currently ongoing.

On September 21-23, CEC Expoforum CEC (St. Petersburg) hosts the 5th International Fishery Forum and Exhibition of the Fishing Industry, Seafood and Technologies Seafood Expo Russia 2022.

As part of Seafood Expo Russia 2022, the 1st International Educational Forum of the Fishery Skills complex is being held. КThe key event of this forum was the panel session: “International cooperation between education and business for the sustainable development of the fishery complex.”, which is dedicated to the role of international standards and technologies in the development of the fishing industry. The plenary session was attended by representatives of executive authorities, international and educational organizations, business communities of Russia, Iran, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and other countries.

At the invitation of the Federal Agency for Fisheries, a presentation was made in the plenary session as a speaker by the Deputy CEO of the “RPC of Fisheries” LLP, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Asylbekova S.Zh.

Also, within the International Educational Forum, a meeting was held on the issues of professional training of fish farmers.

Today, Professor of Gent University Patrick Zorgelus and national expert of the GIZ regional program Kairat Egezhanov made a working visit to “RPC of Fisheries” LLP.

During the meeting, the guests got informed with the activities of the “RPC of Fisheries” LLP, in particular, with the results of the grant project “Research of the export-oriented biological resource – Artemia franciscana to develop a biological justification for the possibility of their introduction, with the purpose to increase the productivity of salt water reservoirs of the Republic of Kazakhstan”.

The guests were informed with the results of the research of artemia by: head of the laboratory of hydrobiology and hydroanalysts, PhD, Mazhibayeva Zh.O. – with the results in the field of hydrobiology, head of the laboratory of hydrobiont genetics Adyrbekova K.B. – with the results of genetic studies of artemia.

In his turn, professor Patrik Zorgelus shared his experience and knowledge in the field of Artemia research, achievements and prospects. Also, the guests visited the laboratory, where the experiments on the project are directly carried out, talked with the team and answered questions of interest.

For reference: The regional project “Environmentally oriented regional development of the Aral Sea region” is carried out on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and is realized by the German Society for International Cooperation (GIZ) GmbH. The project provides support to the governments of Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in ensuring environmentally sustainable cross-border economic development of the Aral Sea region.