Timirkhanov, S., Chaikin, B., Makhambetova, Z., Thorpe, A. and van Anrooy, R.
Fisheries and aquaculture in the Republic of Kazakhstan: a review.
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular. No. 1030/2. Rome, FAO. 2010. 76 pp.
Abstract
The inland capture fi sheries and aquaculture sectors in the Republic of Kazakhstan have gone through
a dramatic decline in production, which lasted until 2001 for capture fi sheries and continues until
today for aquaculture production. While in 1989 some 89 000 tonnes of fi sh were produced within
the Kazakh Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR), the production in 2007 was around 43 000 tonnes. The
upward trend in capture fi sheries production is remarkable, as in 2001 production amounted to just
21 000 tonnes. Aquaculture production is almost insignifi cant, with production accounting for less
than 400 tonnes of marketable fi sh in 2007. In recent years, the contribution of the fi sheries sector
(including capture and culture) to the gross domestic product (GDP) was less than 0.8 percent. Imports
of fi shery products in 2006 were some 44 000 tonnes, while exports added up to 32 000 tonnes.
Per capita consumption of fi sh is estimated at just over 3 kg, which makes fi shery products a small
contributor to the diet of the Kazakh people. The employment provided by the sector may be over 17
000 jobs. In recent years, the Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, with support from its Fisheries
Committee, has made many improvements to the legal framework for the fi sheries sector. It is however
recognized that there are still many gaps in the policy and legal framework for the sector and that
enforcement of rules and regulations needs more attention. International collaboration with the Kazakh
fi sheries sector has increased in recent years, particularly on sturgeon issues and at regional level. This
FAO Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular aims to increase general understanding and awareness of
the current status of the fi sheries and aquaculture sectors in Kazakhstan. The document presented in
this Fisheries and Aquaculture Circular was cleared for publication by the Fisheries Committee of
Kazakhstan in February 2009. |
