At the International Headquarters of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), located in Rome (Italy), from September 2 to 6, 2024, Kamila Adyrbekova, Head of the Laboratory of Hydrobionts Genetics, is participating and made an oral report (in English) on the topic: “Artemia biodiversity in Kazakhstan” (genetic research) in the training seminar on the safeguarding salt lake artemia resourses for aquaculture. The training project is organized by FAO and the Network of Aquaculture Centres in Asia-Pacific (NACA), with the financial support of the Alliance of National and International Science Organizations for the Belt and Road Regions (ANSO) and the Royal Academy for Overseas Sciences (RAOS) in cooperation with the International Artemia Aquaculture Consortium (IAAC).

Specialists from more than 15 countries are participating in the seminar and making expert presentations followed by a discussion where the main issue is the protection/preservation and characterization of the unique gene pool of Artemia from salt lakes and further genetic cataloguing of the species.

From July 15 to the present, employees of the FishRPC (head of the expeditionary team Makambetov S.Zh., research associates Pangereev B.S., Igilik R., Zhdanko L.A., Bekturov D.S. and laboratory assistant Abishev N.B.) have been conducting summer research work on the Ile River and the Kapshagay reservoir according to BP 021 (PP 100) “Determination of fish productivity of fishery reservoirs and/or their sections, development of biological justifications for maximum permissible catch volumes of fish and other aquatic animals, the regime and regulation of fishing in fishery reservoirs of international and national significance and reservoirs of the Balkhash-Alakol basin protected areas. Section: Kapshagay reservoir and the Ile River.” The objective of this work is to assess the current state of the populations of the main commercial fish species to calculate the maximum permissible volumes of extraction of fish resources and other aquatic animals and to develop recommendations for the rational management of fisheries in the Kapchagay Reservoir, the backwater zone, and the upper reaches of the Ile River.

Currently, the expedition team is carrying out the following work:

– collection and analysis of hydrochemical samples;

– collection of hydrobiological samples during the growing season (zooplankton, phytoplankton and zoobenthos) and fish nutrition during the fattening period;

– collection of samples of natural reproduction of juvenile fish with a fishing seine in shallow waters, in the coastal zone of the Kapchagay Reservoir;

– setting up nets for biological analysis of commercial ichthyofauna in fishing areas (biotopes). During the period of research work on the Kapshagay reservoir, the chief specialist of the Kapshagay fishery inspection department of the Balkhash-Alakol interregional basin inspection of fisheries (BAMBIRH) E.O. Karbekov takes part.

Today, 08/28/2024, a meeting is being held at the head office of the FishRPC to review the intermediate results of research and development work on the scientific and technical program for 2024-2026:

“Development and implementation of innovative technologies and new aquaculture facilities that are cost-effective in the natural and climatic conditions of various regions of Kazakhstan” (Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan).

♦  Tasks:

1) Development and implementation of combined technologies for growing valuable fish species (trout).

2) Testing and implementation of effective biotechnical methods for growing promising aquaculture objects in the conditions of fish farms in Kazakhstan with their genetic identification using DNA markers (tench, shrimp).

3) Development and implementation of biotechnical methods for the formation of broodstock of rare and endangered fish species in the conditions of fish farms of Kazakhstan, taking into account their genetic structure (sterlet of the Irtysh population, nelma).

“Comprehensive studies of water bodies for the conservation and sustainable use of aquatic biological resources based on an assessment of their potential and modeling of stock dynamics” (MoA RK).

Tasks:

1) Analysis of biological diversity, molecular genetic identification of alien species and assessment of the resistance of hydrobiocenoses of fishery water bodies to external influences.

2) Ichthyopathological studies of commercial fish species in the main fishery water bodies of Kazakhstan, and the development of comprehensive measures to reduce the risks of mass spread of contagious fish diseases.

3) Ecological and demographic analysis of the mortality of the Caspian seal, study of the influence of natural and anthropogenic factors on the population dynamics, prospects for conservation and stabilization of the species population.

4) Study of biological and consumer characteristics of the export-oriented bioresource – gammarus to develop recommendations for its effective use in the water bodies of Kazakhstan.

5) Modeling the state of stocks in inland commercial water bodies with the development of a software package and domestic methodological recommendations for accounting for fish numbers and calculating the maximum permissible catch.

The meeting is chaired by the General Director, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor Isbekov K.B., in offline and online formats.

From August 26 to 27, 2024, the 8th meeting of the Working Group on Research and Aquaculture created by the Intergovernmental Commission for the Conservation, Rational Use of Aquatic Biological Resources of the Caspian Sea and Management of their Joint Stocks is being held.

The meeting is being chaired by the Russian Federation via videoconference.

The meeting is attended by representatives of the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Russian Federation, Turkmenistan and the Republic of Kazakhstan.

The meeting is attended by the General Director of the FishRPC, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences RK Isbekov K.B., Deputy General Director, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences RK Asylbekova S.Zh. and Chief Scientific Secretary, PhD Mukhramova A.A.

On the agenda:

1. On the results of research activities in 2023.
2. On the results of activities on artificial reproduction of aquatic biological resources in 2023.
3. Development of a draft Comprehensive Program for the Study of Aquatic Biological Resources of the Caspian Sea and Their Habitat in pursuance of item 4 of the agenda of the 7th meeting of the Caspian Commission.
4. On the analysis of the approaches of the Parties to the implementation of fisheries in the Caspian Sea and the analysis of the fishing rules for Caspian sprat.
5. On proposals for organizing joint releases of juvenile sturgeon fish species in pursuance of item 8 of the agenda of the 7th meeting of the Caspian Commission.
6. On the procedure for exchanging genetic samples of sturgeon fish species by the Parties participating in joint genetic research in order to harmonize sturgeon genotyping methods.
7. On the creation of a mechanism for exchanging reproductive material for the artificial reproduction of sturgeon fish species.
8. On approaches to determining the optimal number of sturgeon fish species removed for reproductive purposes.
9. On the advisability of establishing a permanent Secretariat of the Caspian Commission.
10. On recommendations for the period of establishing a ban on commercial fishing of sturgeon in the Caspian Sea.
11. On changes in the level of the Caspian Sea and its impact on aquatic biological resources, their habitats and fisheries activities.

Based on the permit for research fishing issued by the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Kazakhstan within the framework of the scientific and technical program for 2024-2026: “Development and implementation of innovative technologies and new aquaculture facilities that are cost-effective in the natural and climatic conditions of various regions of Kazakhstan” (IRN: BR23591065), employees of the Altai branch of FishRPC caught wild sterlet from the Yertysh River, transported the caught sterlet of the Irtysh population to the OstFish sturgeon farm, where it is planned to carry out work on the formation of a replacement broodstock of sterlet in a closed-loop aquaculture system (RAS).

At the moment, the adaptation of the caught individuals, individual marking with electronic tags, collection of data on the conditions of maintenance of the broodstock, collection of morphological indicators from the caught sterlet individuals are carried out. Also, selection of biological material for genetic assessment and development of genetic passports has been carried out.

FishRPC within the framework of the planned scientific 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. At the basic fish farm in LLP “Kapshagay NVH-1973”, is carried out on the adaptation of freshwater Rosenberg shrimp (Macrobrachium rosenbergii) and tench (Tinca tinca) to industrial growing conditions.

Currently, experiments are being carried out with the use of various types of feed (live and artificial) for juvenile freshwater Rosenberg shrimp when growing in RAS using water from an artesian well. For the first time, domestication of tench of different ages to the conditions of the fish farm of the Republic of Kazakhstan (in trays and a pond) is being carried out.

Employees of the aquaculture laboratory of the Scientific and Production Center of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Scientist Badryzlova N.S., research associates Barakov R.T. and Khalelov A.T. at the Kapshagay NVH-1973 are conducting the grading of freshwater Rosenberg shrimp and tench.

From August 10 to the present, employees of the FishRPC (head of the expeditionary team Makambetov S.Zh., research associates Pangereev B.S., Igilik R., Zhdanko L.A. and laboratory assistant Abishev N.B.) have been conducting the following comprehensive research work on the Lower and Middle Kolsay lakes located in the specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of the Kolsay Kolderi State National Nature Park (SNNP) under BP 021 (subprogram 100) “Determination of fish productivity of fishery water bodies and/or their sections, development of biological justifications for maximum permissible catch volumes of fish and other aquatic animals, the regime and regulation of fishing in fishery water bodies of international, republican significance and SPNA water bodies Balkhash-Alakol basin. Section: Water bodies located in specially protected natural areas (SPNA) of Lake Middle Kolsay and Lake Lower Kolsay:

– collection of hydrochemical samples and field and laboratory studies;

– collection of hydrobiological samples during the growing season (zooplankton, phytoplankton and zoobenthos);

– collection of samples of natural reproduction of juvenile rainbow trout with a fry drag in shallow waters on the Kolsay lakes;

– setting of nets for assessment of commercial fish stocks.

Lakes Lower and Middle Kolsay are located in the Almaty region. On the Kolsay lakes, comprehensive research work has been carried out by the FishRPC since 2017.

Field work continues on the according to scientific and technical programs 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 estimates and scenarios”.

Employees of the West Kazakhstan branch organized an expeditionary trip to collect material for the following water bodies of the Aktobe region: the Turgai and Irgiz rivers, the Baitakkol and Karmakkol lakes, and the Sazdinskoye reservoir.

During the work, the following samples were collected: phyto- and zooplankton, zoobenthos, as well as samples for hydrochemical and toxicological studies.

Monitoring and sampling work continues in the Kazakhstan part of the Caspian Sea 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 estimates and scenarios” for 2023-2025. (block: fish resources).

Currently, the expedition group of the FishRPC is in the area of ​​the bay of Kenderli Island, at station No. 1.

During the research fishing, a specimen of Caspian salmon or Caspian trout (Salmo caspius) was caught. According to the biological indicators taken during life, the body length of the fish is 47 cm, weight 1.3 kg. After that, the fish was released into the Caspian Sea. The expedition team took photos and video footage of the fish and drew up a report with the crew of the sea vessel “Akku” on the capture, life-long research and release of such a rare specimen into the sea.