The international festival 'Kazynaly Caspian – 2026' in Atyrau has become a major dialogue platform for discussing the future of fisheries, reports Todayinfo news agency.
At the international forum within the festival, Atyrau region governor Serik Shapkenov emphasized the importance of strengthening international cooperation to maintain ecological balance in the Caspian Sea. According to him, preserving fish stocks is becoming increasingly urgent amid climate change, sea level fluctuations, and growing anthropogenic impact.
Chairman of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan Serik Sermagambetov noted the leading role of Atyrau region in the fishing industry. Currently, out of 50,000 tons of fish caught annually in Kazakhstan, over 19,000 tons come from the Ural-Caspian basin. Additionally, more than 40 investment projects worth over 60 billion tenge are being implemented in the region.
The region is also doing important work to preserve and reproduce sturgeon species. The Atyrau Sturgeon Fish Hatchery releases 5 million fry into the wild annually, and after modernization, this figure will increase to 7.4 million. Over the past 30 years, Kazakhstan has released about 180 million sturgeon fry into the Caspian Sea.
As part of the festival, an environmental campaign was held to replenish fish stocks in the Ural River, releasing 3,000 sturgeon fry. A tournament among amateur fishermen was also organized, where caught fish were released back into the water. Additionally, a chef competition for preparing fish dishes is underway.
