In accordance with the letter of the Republican State Institution “Balkhash-Alakol Interregional Basin Inspection of Fisheries” (No. 30.2-02-27/293, dated April 31, 2026), and pursuant to Clause 33 of Article 9-1 of the Law of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On the Protection, Reproduction, and Use of Wildlife,” a monitoring mission is being conducted from April 2 to April 6.

E.T. Sansyzbayev (Head of the Ichthyology Laboratory) and R. Igilik (Acting Researcher), in collaboration with officers from the Alakol District Fisheries Inspection, are currently monitoring the gonad development of major commercial fish species within the Alakol lake system.

The objectives of this study are:

• Spawning Readiness: To determine the physiological readiness of fish for the spawning season.

• Regulatory Adjustment: To provide a scientific basis for potentially shifting the dates of the seasonal fishing ban. Due to fluctuating natural and climatic conditions, the ban period may be moved up to fifteen calendar days in either direction, without changing the total duration of the restricted period, to ensure the effective protection of wildlife during reproduction.