Abstract
Lake Balkhash is the largest water body in Central Asia. More than three-quarters of its inflow comes from the Ili River, which is under increasing strain due to the diversion of water for energy and food production. Commercial fishing in Lake Balkhash began in 1929 and is currently in a state of crisis. The construction of the Balkhash dam and reservoir in the late 1960s reduced Ili River flows into the lake and upset the natural cycle of spring floods, which greatly reduced spawning and feeding areas for carp (Cyprinus carpio). Carp populations were consequently reduced by more than 90% during the filling of the reservoir and have not recovered, even though the lake’s level subsequently rose. Catches of carp and freshwater bream (Abramis brama orientalis) have shown an inverse relationship since the 1960s, and the age structure of freshwater bream is changing. Historically, most captured fish of this species were 4- to 7-years-old, but smaller, 3- to 5-year-old fish have dominated recent catches. The total fish harvest from Lake Balkhash is currently at near historical lows, not just because of environmental factors, but also because of structural changes triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Poaching, government disinterest, lack of enforcement of fishing regulations, and the economic challenges faced by today’s small fishing enterprises all contribute to the problem.
Highlights
Lake Balkhash is the largest water body wholly within the borders of Kazakhstan (Figure 1)
The owners privatized the main assets of the former collectives, including fishing fleets, vehicles, and storage facilities, and on a competitive basis, they negotiated long-term leases for 119 fishing areas and sub-areas of Lake Balkhash and the lower Ili River delta
There were no commercial fisheries in Kazakhstan before the 20th century, and it was not until the 1960s that intensive commercial development of fisheries began [59]
Summary
Lake Balkhash is the largest water body wholly within the borders of Kazakhstan (Figure 1). Five permanent rivers flow into it: the Ili, Karatal, Aksu, Lepsa, and Ayaguz [1]. Lake Balkhash is currently the republic’s second most important fishing ground after the Caspian Sea, a much larger body of water that is shared with bordering countries. Some contributing factors are directly attributable to human activities These include water pollution; overfishing; poaching; mismanagement of the fishing industry; and the lack of storage, processing, and other infrastructure required to market fish and fish products [9]. As measured at Balkhash on the lake’s northern shore (Figure 1), varied between 53 and 221 mm during the period from 1935 to 2005 (an average of 125 mm). We take into account a variety of associated risks that will likely determine the future of the lake
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