Today, at the National Academy of Sciences under the President of the Republic of Kazakhstan (Almaty), the International Forum “Challenges and Prospects for Biodiversity Conservation in Central Asia” is taking place, jointly organized with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University. The forum is held in honor of World Environment day and Ecologist’s Day.

Among the participants of the event are specialists from the LLP «Fisheries Research and Production Center»:

• Head of the Information and Innovation Department, PhD – Bolatbekova Z.T.
• Head of the Ichthyology Laboratory – Sansyzbaev E.T.
• Senior Researcher of the Ichthyology Laboratory, PhD – Amirbekova F.T.
• Senior Researcher of the Aquaculture Laboratory – Bulavina N.B.
• Researcher of the Aquaculture Laboratory – Barakov R.T.
• Managers of the Information and Innovation Department – Suleimenova A.M. and Zharas M.T.

At the scientific and innovation exhibition within the forum, LLP «FishRPC» presented:

• the exposition with live sturgeon specimens;
• exhibits of research fish species in a preservation solution
• scientific publications, including specialized atlases, monographs, and methodological guidelines;
• patents for utility models developed by the LLP «FishRPC»

Key discussion topics at the forum included:

• Challenges of sustainable development and biodiversity conservation
• The role of protected areas in nature conservation
• Environmental education and awareness
• GIS technologies in biodiversity monitoring

The forum became an important platform for professional dialogue and the development of joint solutions. LLP «Fisheries Research and Production Center» continues to develop innovative scientific methods and expand international cooperation for the sustainable development of the Central Asian region.

On June 4, 2025, a delegation from the State of Japan visited the FishRPC on a working visit as part of a research project implemented with the support of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA).

The purpose of the visit was to conduct a feasibility study on the possibilities of using Japanese technologies and equipment on salmon farms in Kazakhstan.

The delegation included representatives of the Japanese companies Furatt Gosei Co., Ltd. and Daichu Corporation, as well as experts in the field of aquaculture and international consulting.

JICA delegation composition:

1) Furatt Gosei Co., Ltd: Mr. Kawahara Satoshi, Ms. Ima Alexandra

2) Daichu Corporation: Mr. Shibuya Shota, Mr. Furuya Norihiro

3) Regional Research Institute: Dogin Mr. Kagai Yoshifumi

4) Hidaka Salmon Breeding Association: Mr. Shimizu Masaru

5) KPMG AZSA: Mr. Kaneko Hiroki

6) Project Formation Advisor: JICA Mr. Tsuji Satoshi

7) Translator: Mr. Bisengali Kenesary

The meeting was chaired by Deputy Director General of FishRPC, Doctor of Biological Sciences, Professor, Academician of the National Academy of Agrarian Sciences of the Republic of Kazakhstan Asylbekova S.Zh., who emphasized the importance of scientific exchange and international partnership for the sustainable development of the country’s fishing industry.

The report was made by the senior researcher of the aquaculture laboratory Bulavina N.B., presenting the key areas of research in the field of aquaculture and the prospects for the introduction of Japanese technologies in fish farms in Kazakhstan. During the visit, issues of equipment modernization, business opportunities and areas of cooperation in the field of fish farming between Kazakhstan and the state of Japan were discussed.

Since May 14 of this year, the employees of the FishRPC (head of the expedition team – Karlybayuly S., researcher – Bakkozha Zh. M., researcher – Bekturov B. S., researcher – Zhdanko L. A., junior researcher – Otegen S. A. and driver – Abishev N.) have been conducting research work on the lakes of the Alakol system under programs BP 021 p/p 100 (PDU) and BP 267 p/p 101 (PCF).

At present, the expedition team is conducting the following work:

– physical-geographical and hydrological characteristics of reservoirs;

– analysis of hydrochemical parameters;

– analysis of the state of the food supply for fish in the reservoirs;

– determination of the species composition of fish and other aquatic organisms in water bodies.

During the period of scientific research work on water bodies, the chief specialist of the Alakol fish inspection department Suleimenov N.B. takes part.

Research of the Alakol lake system continues.

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.

The Anti-Corruption Compliance Service announces the beginning of an internal analysis of corruption risks in the activities of LLP «Fisheries Research and Production Center».

The analysis period is from May 12, 2026 to June 23, 2026.

If there is information about corruption risks and administrative barriers, as well as suggestions for improving the analyzed area, regulatory legal acts regulating the activities of the object of analysis, please send the information by e-mail info@fishrpc.kz. Confidentiality and anonymity are guaranteed. The information received will be used to develop recommendations to eliminate corruption risks.

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.