Within the framework of targeted program financing for 2024-2026 under the projects:

• BR23591095 – “Comprehensive studies of water bodies for the conservation of aquatic biological resources based on assessment of their potential and modeling of stock dynamics”
• BR23531065 – “Development and implementation of innovative aquaculture technologies and facilities that are economically effective in the natural and climatic conditions of various regions of Kazakhstan”

Patents have been obtained for the following utility models:

▣ № 10565 Device for temporary holding of live fish during parasitological research. The utility model relates to the field of fisheries and can be used in parasitological studies of fish in fishery reservoirs.

▣ № 10566 Method for determination of species composition of alien fish in water bodies. The utility model relates to the field of fisheries and can be used to study the species composition of alien fish in natural reservoirs.

▣ № 10596 Method of identification of sturgeon fish species. The utility model relates to the field of fish farming and can be used in the formation of a user-specific broodstock (RBS) of sturgeon fish.

▣ № 10643 Method of growing tench in fish farms. The utility model relates to the field of fish farming and can be used for growing tench in fish farms.

The research is funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

             Since May 10 of this year, employees of the Ichthyology Laboratory of the Scientific and Production Center of Fisheries LLP (expedition team leader – S.Zh. Makambetov; researchers – R. Igilik, A.A. Mukatai, and L.A. Zhdanko; junior researcher – K. Maratuly; and driver – N.K. Sakharin) have been conducting scientific research at the Kapshagai Reservoir and the Ili River as part of Programs 021 (Subprogram 100) and 267 (Subprogram 101).
            The purpose of the work is to assess the current state of populations of key commercial fish species in order to calculate the maximum allowable catch volumes of fish and other aquatic animals, and to develop recommendations for the sustainable management of fisheries in the Kapshagai Reservoir, the backwater zone, and the upper reaches of the Ili River. The research also includes an analysis of biodiversity dynamics and the development of conservation measures.
            Currently, the expedition team is carrying out the following work:

            – Physical-geographical and hydrological characterization of the water bodies;

            – Analysis of hydrochemical parameters;

            – Assessment of the fish food base in the water bodies;

            – Identification of the species composition of fish and other aquatic organisms.

During the research period at the Kapshagai Reservoir, N.V. Shkurkin, Chief Specialist of the Kapshagai Fish Inspection Department of the Balkhash–Alakol Interregional Basin Fisheries Inspection (BAMBIRH), is also participating.

From May 20 to May 28, 2025, employees of the West Kazakhstan branch, within the framework of the scientific and technical program BR21882122 “Sustainable Development of Natural-Economic and Socio-Economic Systems of the West Kazakhstan Region in the Context of Green Growth: Comprehensive Analysis, Concept, Forecast Assessments and Scenarios”, conducted a field expedition to local fishing water bodies — the Kushum River, and the Kirov, Dongelek, and Pyatimar reservoirs.

During the expedition, water samples were collected for hydrochemical analysis, scientific research fishing was carried out, and the fish food base (zoo- and phytoplankton, zoobenthos) was collected.”

According to the scheduled plan, from May 23 to June 13, 2025, researchers from the head department (expedition leader, PhD Abilov B.I., and Minat A.) and the Atyrau branch (Uteuliev T.A., Suleimenov S.B., and Batyrbek N.M.) of the Scientific-Production Center for Fisheries LLP are conducting scientific research in the Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea.

The studies are being carried out at ten monitoring stations:

1. Kazakh Bay
2. Al-Farabi
3. Aktau
4. Seal Islands
5. Karazhanbas
6. SKMK Prorva
7. SKMK
8. MSC Kashagan
9. MSC Kashagan 2
10. Shalygi Island*

The research involves collecting: Toxicological samples, Hydrobiological samples, Hydrochemical samples, Specimens of fish and other aquatic organisms

This research is conducted under the scientific-technical program BR21882122: “Sustainable Development of Natural-Economic and Socio-Economic Systems of Western Kazakhstan Region in the Context of Green Growth: Comprehensive Analysis, Concept, Predictive Assessments and Scenarios” for 2023-2025 (Fish Resources section).

Research objectives for 2025:

1. Conduct predictive assessment of the current bioresource potential of water bodies in Western Kazakhstan region and develop a series of informational-assessment maps of economic-resource potential.
2. Develop science-based measures for rational fish resource utilization, including predictive-recommendation maps, to ensure sustainable development and food security for fish products in Western Kazakhstan region.
3. Identify sustainable development pathways through evaluation of natural capital and ecosystem service value of water bodies in Western Kazakhstan region, comparing baseline and alternative development scenarios, including cost-benefit analysis of proposed fisheries management measures and optimization of bioresource utilization/reproduction under climate change and economic activity impacts.

On May 20–21, 2025, Astana will host a seminar titled “Strategic Vision for the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Kazakhstan’s Biodiversity: Initial Results, Future Plans, and Financial Mechanisms”.

Objectives of the event:

• To present the results of drafting the Kazakhstan Biodiversity Conservation Concept and its accompanying Action Plan, and to conduct expert consultations on the alignment of the draft Concept with the Global Biodiversity Framework; To inform national partners about the preparation of Kazakhstan’s 7th National Report on Biological Diversity;
• To establish a platform for open dialogue among representatives of government agencies, international organizations, academia, the private sector, and civil society on developing and implementing sustainable financial mechanisms for: Kazakhstan’s protected areas system, Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measures (OECMs), Biodiversity conservation under the Global Biodiversity Framework.

Participants: M.K. Kalmuratov, Head of the Fisheries Protection and Regulation Department, Fisheries Committee, Ministry of Agriculture (MKh) of Kazakhstan; K.B. Isbekov, Director General of LLP “FISHRPC”, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Agricultural Sciences of Kazakhstan; T.T. Barakbaev, Director of the Aral Branch of “FISHRPC”, PhD.

The team of FishRPC extends its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Elena Konstantinovna Danko on her passing. Our colleague, ichthyologist-fish farmer Elena Konstantinovna Danko, has passed away, this is a great loss for us. Eternal memory!

We mourn together with her family.

Elena Konstantinovna was born on January 6, 1947. In 1971, she graduated from the Faculty of Biology of the Kazakh State University named after S.M. Kirov, specializing in ichthyology and hydrobiology.

She began her career in our organization in August 1973 as a junior researcher in the laboratory of genetics and fish breeding and took an active part in the research work of Kazakhstani fisheries scientists on the creation of the Kazakhstani carp breed, the development of genetic methods for fish breeding (chemical and radiation mutagenesis), two-line breeding and industrial hybridization of herbivorous fish, in the selection of silver carp for adaptability to industrial technology, the formation of highly productive broodstocks of various forms of trout, the development of methods for accelerated changes in the genetic structure of carp lines and the receipt of promising interline combinations.

From 1992 to 1997, Elena Konstantinovna headed the Laboratory of Pond and Industrial Fish Farming. During this time, the laboratory’s research was diverse and comprehensive. Work on pond aquaculture was carried out at the Syrdarya, Karaganda, Chilik, and Tasutkel pond farms, as well as the Kapshagay spawning and rearing facility. The projects implemented under her leadership during that period included the development of biotechnology for the industrial production of yearling carp and herbivorous fish in different climatic zones, studies on the effect of water yeast on the bioproductivity of pond ecosystems, and the development of methods for growing fish seed and marketable fish using the warm discharge waters of thermal power plants, among others.

▪ In recent years, Elena Konstantinovna Danko worked as a senior researcher in the ichthyology laboratory, supervised research work on the Balkhash-Alakol basin.

▪️ Under her leadership and her participation, research was carried out on the conservation and sustainable use of the gene pool of rare and valuable species and breeds of fish in the Alakol lake system, a biological justification was prepared for the artificial stocking of lakes with carp of local origin, and an incubation workshop for the reproduction of carp was built in the village of Besagash and the first 30 million larvae were obtained.

▪️ Danko E.K. and colleagues from the genetics laboratory carried out research work to determine the genetic isolation of the Balkhash perch population from Lake Alakol and Balkhash. Genetic studies allowed us to conclude that the perch from the two lakes has a common origin with subsequent long-term isolation.

▪️ Elena Konstantinovna was a member of the Presidium of the Central Committee of the Science Trade Union, and for many years served as the permanent chairperson of the trade union committee of the FishRPC until her retirement.

Within the framework of the scientific and technical program 2024-2026 “Development and implementation of innovative technologies and new aqua-culture facilities that are economically effective in the natural and climatic con-ditions of various regions of Kazakhstan” under the project: “Testing and im-plementation of effective biotechnical methods for growing promising aquacul-ture species in fish farms in Kazakhstan with their genetic identification using DNA-markers” on the basis of «Kapshagai Spawning and Growing Farm-1973» LLP, research is being conducted on the cultivation of tench and giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) in industrial conditions.

The research team of the aquaculture laboratory of LLP «Fisheries Research and Production Center», senior researcher Badryzlova N.S., research associate Maratova G.M. and research associate Khalelov A.T., conducted a biological assessment and measured the objects of the study: tench and giant freshwater prawn (Macrobrachium rosenbergii), which are planted in rearing units: pools, closed water supply installation, trays and a pond. Experiments have been conducted with the use of live and artificial feeds using water from an artesian well and pond water. Tench samples were taken for genetic analysis.

Within the framework of targeted programm financing programs for 2024–2026, patents for utility models have been obtained under the following topics:
BR23591095 – “Comprehensive studies of water bodies for the conservation of aquatic biological resources based on the assessment of their potential and modeling of stock dynamics”, and
BR23531065 – “Development and implementation of innovative aquaculture technologies and facilities that are economically viable under the natural and climatic conditions of various regions of Kazakhstan.”

1. Utility Model Patent No. 10490 – Combined method for trout farming.
   This utility model relates to the field of aquaculture and can be used for trout farming in fish hatcheries.
2. Utility Model Patent No. 10491 – Method of studying the bio-diversity of ichthyofauna.
   This utility model pertains to the fisheries sector and may be applied in the study of ichthyofaunal biodiversity.
3. Utility Model Patent No. 10492 – Device for capturing and fixing fish in ichthyopathological studies.
   The proposed utility model belongs to the field of fisheries and can be used in ichthyopathological research conducted in aquaculture water bodies.

These studies are funded by the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The Atyrau branch of the LLP «Fisheries Research and Production Center» continues its scientific research within the framework of the BR21882122 “Sustainable Development of Natural-Industrial and Socio-Economic Systems of the West Kazakhstan Region in the Context of Green Growth: A Comprehensive Analysis, Concept, Forecast Estimates and Scenarios”

The expedition team — consisting of the Director of the Atyrau branch, E.L. Kadimov, Senior Researcher T.A. Uteuliev, and Junior Researcher N.M. Batyrbek — visited observation stations along the Zhaiyk River, as well as in the Inder and Makhambet districts, to conduct scientific research.

As a result, hydrochemical, toxicological, hydrobiological, and ichthyological samples were collected, and the meteorological conditions of the research areas were recorded.

Currently, the collected samples are undergoing laboratory analysis.