From December 17 to 19, 2024, the 8th meeting of the Commission on the conservation and rational use of aquatic biological resources and management of their joint stocks is being held at the Volga-Caspian branch of the Russian State Scientific Center of Fisheries and Oceanography (Astrakhan).

The delegation from the Republic of Kazakhstan includes:

1. Bakhiyanov A.K., Acting Chairman of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
2. Isbekov K.B., General Director of FishRPC, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan;
3. Kadimov E.L., Director of the Atyrau branch of FishRPC;
4. Klimov F.V., Executive Director of KAPE LLP, PhD in Biology.

On the agenda

• Discussion of the implementation of the points of the Protocol of the 7th meeting of the Commission;
• Reports of the Parties for 2023 on the use of catch quotas, on the reproduction and protection of fish resources and a discussion of the state of aquatic biological resources based on marine research;
• Discussion of the minutes of the meeting of the Working Group on Research and Aquaculture;
• Consideration of the issue of extending the ban on commercial fishing of sturgeon fish species in the Caspian Sea;
• Approval of quotas (volumes) for the catch of joint aquatic biological resources for 2025;
• Discussion of the issue of joint research work in the Caspian Sea;
• Discussion of the issue of joint releases of sturgeon fish fry from artificial reproduction;
• Discussion of the issue of the possibility of amending the Agreement on the conservation and rational use of aquatic biological resources of the Caspian Sea.

At the end of the meeting, the Commission’s Protocol will be drawn up and signed.

      From December 14 to 15, 2024, Deputy General Director Asylbekova S.Zh. and Senior Researcher of the Aquaculture Laboratory Bulavina N.B. are carrying out work to collect biological material for genetic research and data on the morphological characteristics of the replacement broodstock of the Irtysh sterlet, formed within the framework of the project: “Development and implementation of biotechnical methods for the formation of replacement broodstock of rare and endangered fish species in the conditions of fish farms in Kazakhstan, taking into account their genetic structure according to the Scientific and Technical Progress of Aquaculture. This replacement broodstock is being adapted to the conditions of the RAS at the fish hatchery of OST Fish LLP. The adaptation and effectiveness of domestication of the Irtysh sterlet population is also monitored. The research is planned for three years (2024-2026), the work is ongoing.

      Previously, there was no need to form the Irtysh sterlet replacement broodstock and the preservation of natural populations was supported by environmental measures. However, the anthropogenic impact on natural populations has reached such proportions (in the form of poaching and the consequences of channel regulation) that its numbers can be maintained, as well as saved from complete destruction, only through targeted work to support natural reproduction with artificial ones.

            From December 9 to 14, a scientific and practical seminar is being held at the Khamit SPC in the FISH SCHOOL aquaculture training center for entrepreneurs and fish farmers on the topic of “Technologies for growing valuable fish species”.

          Within the framework of the Memorandum of Cooperation concluded between the FishRPC and the Khamit SPC, the seminar was conducted by a research associate of the aquaculture laboratory of the FishRPC, A. U. Umirtayeva.

         During the seminar, listeners will get acquainted with traditional technologies for growing valuable fish species in the conditions of fish farms in Kazakhstan, with innovative technologies for cultivating promising aquaculture objects, as well as with measures of state support for the development of small and medium-sized businesses in the fishing industry of the Republic of Kazakhstan and learned how to prepare business plans. Practical classes were held at the pond farm of the SPC “Khamit”, the cage farm of TOO “Vita”, the lake-commercial fish farm “Sultan”, the basin farm of IP “Baiterek” and the fish processing factory of the SPC “Khamit”.

On December 4-5, 2024, a regional CacFish seminar on integrated aquaculture systems is being held in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. From the Republic of Kazakhstan, this seminar is attended by the Head of the Aquaculture Development Department of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture Gabbasov M.M., Associate Professor of the KATIU named after S. Seifullin, Department of Hunting and Fisheries Asylbekova A.S., from FishRPC Deputy General Director, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Asylbekova S.Zh., who presented a report on Scientific Support for Aquaculture in the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Development of Effective Technologies for Integrated Aquaculture. Other materials from the speakers were also presented at the seminar:

– Aquaculture systems with reuse of ponds – promising technologies for increasing fish production;

– Integrated multitrophic aquaculture;

– Aquaponics – demonstration of various system options;

– Recirculating water supply systems and aquaponics;

– Increasing the value of sludge in aquaculture;

– Cyclic approaches to fish processing;

– Water circulation in pond systems;

– Rice-fish systems;

– Food web and trophic cascades in fish ponds;

– Ornamental aquaculture – on the example of Turkey;

– Use of aquaculture wastewater for gardening

– Development of a complex of biotechnologies for intensive aquaculture for growing valuable fish species and black soldier fly.

On December 2, 2024, a researcher at the aquaculture laboratory of FishRPC LLP, A. Umirtayeva, together with the head of the Department of Natural Resources and Nature Management Regulation of the Almaty Region, A. Magzumov, and representatives of the Qazaq balyk association, M. Tursynali, in accordance with the requirements of the Subsidy Rules for reimbursement of part of the expenses incurred by a fisheries entity during investment, inspected the equipment purchased for the Great Steppe Heritage LLP farm in accordance with the project passport for the creation and (or) expansion of a cage fish farm.

They also got acquainted with the work of the cage fish farm.

 Reference: the cage fish farm of Great Steppe Heritage LLP is located on the basis of the Bestyubinsky reservoir in the Kegen district of the Almaty region. The farm was put into operation in 2023. The design capacity of the farm is 500 tons of commercial trout per year.

Today, November 28, 2024, the FAO delegation arrived on a working visit to the Head Office of the FishRPC to discuss the implementation of the FAO project “Transforming Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture in Kazakhstan to Ensure Environmental Sustainability”. The following project components were discussed:

Component 1: Management Systems – Strengthening the enabling environment to support the sustainable development of the inland fisheries and aquaculture sector through the introduction and implementation of ecosystem approaches to aquaculture and fisheries.

Component 2: Building Institutional and Technical Capacity – Strengthening institutional capacity for planning, conservation, management and sustainable development of aquatic resources.

Component 3: Value Chain Development: Technical Support Program and Piloting Innovative Climate Adaptation Methods in the Aquaculture and Culture-Based Fisheries Production Sectors.

Composition of the FAO delegation:

• Thomas Shipton, International Consultant on Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Gulnar Tleuova, National Project Coordinator
• Aisha Sakhmetova, Programme Assistant
• Kadyrbek Iskaliev, Expert on Value Chain in Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture
• Erlan Kegenov, Consultant on Inland Fisheries and Aquaculture

Participated in the discussion:

• Isbekov K.B., Doctor of Biological Sciences, General Director of FishRPC,
• Asylbekova S.Zh., Doctor of Biological Sciences, Deputy General Director of FishRPC,
• Mukhramova A.A., PhD Chief Scientific Secretary of FishRPC,
• Employees of the aquaculture laboratory and heads of structural divisions of FishRPC,
• Tursynali M. – Director of the branch for Almaty region Republican Association of Fisheries and Aquaculture “Qazaq balyk”;
• Shadibekov A.K. – Director of the Kapshagay fisheries spawning and rearing farm.
• Abdybekova A.M., Doctor of Biological Sciences, Deputy General Director of KazNIVI LLP,
• Kydyrmanov A.I., Doctor of Biological Sciences, head of the laboratory of the Scientific and Production Center of Microbiology and Virology LLP.

Today, November 25, 2024, the head office of the LLP «Fisheries Research and Production Center» (Almaty) is holding a meeting of the Academic Council to review and approve biological justifications for program 021, subprogram 100 “Ensuring the conservation, reproduction and rational use of wildlife resources” for the lot “Determining the fish productivity of fishery reservoirs and / or their sections, developing biological justifications for maximum permissible catches of fish and other aquatic animals, the regime and regulation of fishing in fishery reservoirs of international, republican importance and reservoirs of protected areas, as well as assessing the state of fish resources in reserve reservoirs of local importance.”

This work was carried out by order of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The following persons participate in the work of the Academic Council in person:

• Representative of the Customer, Acting Head of the Department for the Protection of Fish Resources and Fisheries Regulation of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Kalmuratov M.K.;
• Chairman of the Board of the Merger of legal entities “Republican Association of Fisheries and Aquaculture “Qazaq balyk” Rysbaev A.Zh.;
• Head of the Balkhash-Alakol Interregional Basin Inspection Suyubaev A.S.;
• Head of the Aral-Syrdarya Interregional Basin Inspection Nalibaev P.M.;
• Head of the Zaysan-Ertis Interregional Basin Inspection Rakhimzhanov T.T.
• Deputy head of the Yesil Interregional Basin Inspection Yesimseitov M.B.
• Head of the Zhaiyk-Caspian Interregional Basin Inspection Gaisin N.A.
• Head of the Tobol-Torgay Interregional Basin Inspection Beysimbaev S.Zh.
• Head of the Shu-Talas interregional basin inspection Kabdugaliev A.A.
• Head of the Nura-Sarysu interregional basin inspection Orakbaev G.Zh.
• Head of the Karaganda region UPRRP Sanbaev B.Zh.

Online participation is taken by:

– chief expert of the department for the protection of fish resources and regulation of fisheries of the Committee of Fisheries of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan Makhmetov I.S., representatives of all interregional basin inspections and research staff of the branches of LLP “FishRPC”.

Based on the results of the work of the Academic Council, the reviewed biological justifications will be sent to the Customer for approval of the limit for the period from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2026 in the fishery waters of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

A seminar on the topic: “Innovations in fisheries and aquaculture as a key component of sustainable aquafood systems” was held from October 20 to 26 at “Innovations in Fisheries and Aquaculture as a Key Component of Sustainable Aquafood Systems” (University of South Bohemia, Faculty of Fisheries and Water Protection, Vodnany, Czech Republic).

The seminar was attended by a senior researcher at the hydrobiology laboratory of the FishRPC, PhD M.O. Aubakirova

The following issues were discussed at the seminar:

1. Fish diseases in aquaculture and modern methods of diagnosis, prevention and treatment;
2. Aquaculture without waste: aquaponics, multitrophic systems, waste disposal;
3. Induced sterility in aquaculture – methods, problems and prospects;
4. Diversification of inland aquaculture: increasing fish productivity using In-Pond Raceway technology and the “selective breeding” program;
5. Innovative feeds for promising aquaculture objects and their impact on fish productivity;
6. Methods of cryopreservation of sexual products of males of various fish species and preservation of genetic diversity in situ.

In addition, during the seminar, practical classes were held on artificial insemination and incubation of eggs of various fish species in fish farms.

FishRPC within the framework of the research and technical program for 2024-2026 “Development and implementation of innovative technologies and new aquaculture objects, cost-effective in the natural and climatic conditions of various regions of Kazakhstan” (IRN: BR23591065) conducts research with new aquaculture objects of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Rosenberg freshwater shrimp and tench.

At the basic fish farm of LLP “Kapshagay NVH-1973” research has been completed on the project “Testing and implementation of effective biotechnical methods for growing promising aquaculture objects in the conditions of fish farms of Kazakhstan with their genetic identification use DNA markers”.

On October 17, 2024, employees of the aquaculture laboratory of FishRPC head of laboratory Abilov B.I., senior researcher Badryzlova N.S., research associates Bulavin E.F., Khalelov A.T., Barakov R.T. carried out the final catch of the experimental pond, trays and pools of the mini RAS at the fish farm and carried out the assessment of the research objects (tench and Rosenberg freshwater shrimp).

Employees of the FishRPC (head of the expedition team Minat A., head of the expedition team – Karlybayuly S., head of the expedition team – Makambetov S.Zh., junior researcher Otegen S.A., laboratory assistant-driver Sakharin N.K.) have been conducting research work from September 12 to the present time for the purpose of certification of local water bodies in Almaty region.

The work is carried out under an agreement with the Department of Natural Resources and Nature Management Regulation of Almaty Region.

The following types of work are carried out on the water bodies:

– collection and processing of hydrochemical samples (water);

– collection and processing of hydrobiological samples (zooplankton and zoobenthos);

– sampling of natural reproduction of juvenile fish using a dragnet in shallow waters of local water bodies in the Almaty region;

– net installations for assessing commercial fish stocks.

Based on the results of the work, passports of the studied water bodies will be issued.