Kazakhstan resumes commercial sprat fishing in the Caspian Sea after 30 years

Kazakhstan has restarted commercial fishing in the Caspian Sea after a 30-year hiatus, focusing on catching sprat. A local company has purchased two vessels to initially catch about 10,000 tons of sprat per year, with plans to increase this to 30,000 tons by next year by acquiring four more vessels. The move comes as a way to meet domestic demand for high-quality fish.

Kazakhstan has resumed commercial fishing in the Caspian Sea after a 30-year break. According to the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic, a ceremony of sending commercial vessels to catch sprat was held in the port of Mangistau Region. "As part of a working visit to Mangistau Region, Vice Minister of Agriculture Amangaliy Berdalin visited the port of Sarzha in the village of Kuryk, where he took part in the first departure of ships for commercial sprat fishing. Commercial fishing in Mangistau Region was developed until 1991, when the Mangyshlak Rybkholodflot enterprise operated, providing the region and other countries with fish products <…>. For the first time in 30 years, ships for industrial fishing entered the Kazakhstani part of the Caspian Sea," the report says. According to the department, a local company purchased two vessels to resume fishing. "It is planned that with their help the company will catch about 10 thousand tons of Caspian sprat per year, providing ...