As reported by the press service of the Cabinet on March 29, in his speech, Kasymaliev emphasized that the water resources of Kyrgyzstan are excellent for both amateur and sport fishing. He noted that the country's fishery sector is actively developing and fully meets domestic needs.
Furthermore, he spoke about significant achievements in the export of fish products. According to him, the Department of Fisheries, in collaboration with scientists, actively cooperates with fishermen and hunters, and has also implemented an electronic ticketing system through Agro-Smart.
Kasymaliev also noted that Kyrgyz fishermen have been showing commendable results in international tournaments. For example, the Kyrgyzstan national team in feeder fishing took 20th place at the 2024 World Championship in Spain.
“In April 2026, the 15th World Championship will take place in Italy. The International Federation of Freshwater Fishing competes with 70 countries, and our team is actively preparing for these competitions,” he added.
“When it comes to fishing, I think of the works of Ernest Hemingway, such as 'The Old Man and the Sea,' and Chingiz Aitmatov with his 'The Gray Dog Running Along the Edge of the Sea.' In my childhood, like many boys, I loved to fish. Trips to the lake were a real temptation. Spending hours waiting for a bite is a special joy, and as these works say, nature always tests us. It is important to overcome impatience,” Kasymaliev believes.
The international feeder fishing tournament "Opening of the Fishing Season 2026" took place on March 28-29 of this year, gathering 60 athletes from teams of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, and Uzbekistan.
The tournament culminated in the awarding of winners and prize-winners with special prizes.
