The Department of the Fishery Complex, which is part of the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic, has developed an extensive plan for the restoration of biological resources in the main high-altitude lakes of the country. This initiative is being implemented in accordance with a presidential decree signed on July 10, 2023, which introduces a moratorium on commercial fishing in the waters of Issyk-Kul and Son-Kul.
According to the approved schedule for 2026, Issyk-Kul will receive 14.1 million juvenile fish, while 3.5 million fry will be released into Son-Kul Lake. The focus is on the reproduction of valuable species such as Issyk-Kul trout, carp (common carp), and the sig-ludoga. All activities have been coordinated with the Institute of Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, and experts emphasize that artificial stock replenishment is critically important for maintaining ecological balance, considering the existence of 26 fish species in Issyk-Kul.
It is important to note that in the last two years, work on fish stocking has also been active. In 2024, over 27 million fry were released into both lakes, while in 2025, this figure was around 19 million. In addition to fish stocking, department specialists, together with divers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the environmental police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, continue to clean the lakes of poaching synthetic nets. A comprehensive approach combining a fishing ban and active reproduction aims to restore fish stocks in these water bodies.
