Fish farming in Uzbekistan is threatened by climate change, dwindling water resources and poaching, environmentalists say.
Despite measures taken and claims by the authorities that fish production and consumption in Uzbekistan meet WHO-recommended standards, the country’s fish population is declining.
According to the Statistics Agency, 198.9 thousand tonnes of fish were caught in 2023. The volume of fish farming increased by 7.3 per cent compared to 2022.
Meanwhile, according to data presented by Shukhrat Rakhmatov, deputy chairman of the Uzbekbaliksanoat Association, at a press conference, 400,000 tonnes of fish were produced in 2021.
Judging by these figures, the production of this valuable food product has halved. The analytical bureau CABAR.asia analysed the reasons for this reduction.
Reduction of fish population in Uzbekistan is connected with a number of ecological, economic and social factors. These factors have a negative impact on the fish population and the condition of water bodies, experts say.
Climate change and more frequent droughts have already contributed to the decline of many fish species by drying up water bodies, which in turn causes the loss of habitat for fish in natural reservoirs, said Feruzbek Sayfullaev, an eco-blogger and head of the Ecologist public association’s information service.
One of the main reasons is also the intensive use of water for irrigation of agricultural land, which leads to a decrease in the volume of water in the country’s rivers and lakes.
In addition, the fish population is reduced by illegal fishing, including without permits and quotas, especially when fish are caught with nets or electric devices, which leads to the death of fry.
Declining fish populations pose a serious threat to Uzbekistan’s environmental stability and food security, he said.
In addition, the ecologist points out that in the country it is not uncommon for large factories and plants to dump industrial waste into rivers and water bodies, which also affects fish numbers.
‘This remains one of the big problems in the fisheries sector. Many factories and manufacturing plants dump their waste and effluents into water bodies and lakes. As a result, a large number of fish die in these lakes and water bodies,’ he says.
Environmental officials only impose fines on these factories and enterprises, and the fines are very small. As a result, the factories and enterprises continue to discharge wastewater into natural water bodies, as it is more profitable for them to pay a fine than to bring their equipment into compliance and not to discharge harmful waste into rivers.
He cited an example he personally observed not too long ago.
‘Recently, a paper factory dumped its waste and wastewater into a water body. As a result, all the fish in this water body died. The fishing entrepreneur lost millions as the fish he was raising died. And the paper mill just paid a small fine and continued its activities. I believe that large fines should be applied for such offences,’ he said.
In addition, he noted that many fishermen continue to fish during the spawning period, when fishing is officially prohibited. This period is necessary for fish reproduction, but many fishermen do not pay attention to this and continue to fish during the prohibited time.
Another problem is fishing by illegal methods.
‘Poachers often use electronic devices that run on electric current, which harms many fish and other living creatures in water bodies. I believe that this should be stopped and the punishment for such violations in the law should be toughened,’ said Feruzbek Sayfullayev, an eco-blogger,
According to local media reports, from January to May of this year alone, the ecological territorial offices of the country’s Ministry of Ecology, Environmental Protection and Climate Change identified 123 cases of fishing violations.
Appropriate action has been taken against the violators. Such efforts are aimed at preserving fish resources and preventing illegal fishing, which causes significant damage to ecosystems.
According to Law No. 627 of the Republic of Uzbekistan of 8 July 2020 on hunting and hunting economy, a ban on fishing in natural water bodies throughout the territory is introduced annually from 10 March to 31 May.
The use of various fishing gear and methods, including nets, electric rods and explosives, is prohibited. Violators are held administratively liable and may be punished in accordance with the law.
Will there be even fewer fish?
According to Bakhtiyer Sheraliev, PhD, ichthyologist and Regional Chair of the IUCN Central Asian Freshwater Fish Specialist Group, climate change is a natural process that has occurred throughout the Earth’s history, leading to mass extinctions of species.
However, the anthropogenic-induced climate change we are seeing now is significantly different in its speed and scale, causing serious environmental impacts. Currently, about 150 biological species are disappearing every day on Earth, Sheraliyev noted.
Central Asia, including Uzbekistan, is particularly vulnerable to climate change because of its remoteness from large bodies of water. Because Central Asian countries are far from open bodies of water, the effects of climate change are more pronounced here than in other regions.
Since the second half of the last century, the Aral Sea has dried up precisely because of inappropriate water policies. This has led to the fact that the already difficult environmental situation in the region has reached catastrophic proportions. In addition, with the drying up of the sea, 34 species of fish that lived in it have completely disappeared.
As a result of global climate change, temperatures have risen compared to previous levels, causing the rapid melting of permanent mountain glaciers, which are the main sources of water for rivers such as the Amu Darya and Syr Darya in Central Asia.
In addition, precipitation also varies from year to year. In recent decades, winters in Uzbekistan have been mostly dry. This means water shortages in spring and summer. The reduction of water resources in rivers directly affects the freshwater fish living in them. In addition, various reservoirs have been built in almost all rivers in the region, which also affects the water regime of the rivers.
‘Uzbekistan is the only de facto double landlocked country in the world. Therefore, fish diversity here is much poorer than in other regions. However, despite this, there are many endemic fish species in our region,’ the scientist said.
As a result of climate change and increasing anthropogenic impact, the numbers of these endemic species have now declined significantly, he said.
For example, such species as Syr Darya false hoof (Pseudoscaphirhynchus fedtschenkoi), parag (Capoetobrama kuschakewitschi), pike (Aspiolucius esocinus), white bream (Abramis brama) and Amu Darya char (Oxynoemacheilus oxianus) have completely disappeared from water bodies in the Fergana Valley. Also, a species of endemic fish of the Zarafshan River, the Samarkand char (Dzihunia ilan), is no longer found and is probably also extinct.
Currently, Uzbekistan’s water bodies are home to about 70 species of fish, Sheraliyev said.
My life is all about fishing
Meanwhile, an effective solution to the problem requires the joint efforts of all sectors of society, including fishermen, experts said.
Akmal Khaidarov, 36, a second-group disabled man and father of four children, has been fishing for 25 years. He and his father fish the Uchkyzyl Reservoir, where bream, pikeperch, carp and amur are mostly found.
According to Akmal, enthusiastic fishermen like him also make efforts to stock the reservoirs and preserve fish populations.
‘We come here once or twice a week to fish. As soon as we have free time, we go fishing. My father and I have been fishing for 25 years. We also go fishing on other canals and ditches (irrigation ditches). There used to be suril in the Uchkyzyl reservoir, but now this species has disappeared. The number of carp is decreasing every day,’ he said.
Akmal Khaidarov said fishermen are also trying to do their best to prevent the decline of fish species. For example, they have created a Telegram group for fishermen called Baliqovichilar, which has more than 600 members. All members of the group discounted and launched fish fry in the Uchkizil reservoir.
‘Last year we launched more than 1,000 fry and this year we launched more than 2,000. We fish legally. But there are also many illegal fishermen in our region. I have one appeal to poachers. Please do not catch small fish. The fish should be left for future generations. I also organise various competitions for fishermen. We hold fishing competitions twice a year. There are more than 2000 fishermen in Surkhandarya. Currently, fishermen come to the Uchkyzyl Reservoir to fish,’ he said.
Meanwhile, Khaidarov complained about a number of reasons that have worsened the situation for amateur fishermen.
According to him, the natural lake was given to entrepreneurs to build various fish restaurants, and now they do not allow fishermen to fish in this body of water.
‘Our main concern is that natural lakes should not be given to entrepreneurs. Natural lakes should remain natural lakes. Fishermen should be allowed to fish. It has become very difficult to fish in Uch and Oktepa lakes because these lakes have been given to entrepreneurs to build fish restaurants. They prohibit fishermen from fishing. We ask to legally open the natural lake Uch for fishermen,’ a fisherman asks.
‘The fishermen have all the necessary documents. We always pay state fees. We have an association of hunters. We pay dues to the hunters‘ association every year without delays, we pay 240,000 soums (about $20) a year to the hunters’ association,’ Haidarov said.
By law, amateur fishermen are allowed to catch up to five kilogrammes of fish per day, using a rod with five hooks.
However, fishing does not bring much income. In spring, during the fish spawning period, until 31 May, fishing is prohibited. It is allowed to catch it from 1 June.
‘My life is connected with fishing. There is no income from fishing because it depends on luck. One day you catch a fish, another day you come back empty-handed. If a fisherman catches 5 kilos of fish a day, he can sell two or three kilos and keep the rest for himself and his family. We don’t go fishing to sell fish. I have a small shop in Termez where I sell fishing gear. I sell fishing rods and other goods for fishing,’ he says.
What to do?
According to ichthyologist Bakhodir Sheraliyev, if measures are not taken to prevent climate change, if the recommendations of organisations such as the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) are not followed, if effective work is not carried out to reduce the anthropogenic impact on water bodies, the number of native fish species in Uzbekistan’s reservoirs could halve in 30-40 years.
‘In this regard, first of all, the state institutions responsible for these issues should review and improve relevant legislation, taking into account climate change, and develop a legal framework for the protection of biological species in the context of global climate change.’ – Sheraliyev said.
Adopting strict legislative measures, as well as raising public awareness, could help improve the situation, experts said.