What is it about?
Lake Balkhash is the largest water body in Central Asia. More than three-quarters of its inflow comes from the Ili River, which is under increasing strain due to the diversion of water for energy and food production. Commercial fishing in Lake Balkhash began in 1929 and is currently in a state of crisis. The construction of the Balkhash dam and reservoir in the late 1960s reduced Ili River flows into the lake and upset the natural cycle of spring floods, which greatly reduced spawning and feeding areas for carp (Cyprinus carpio).
Featured Image
Why is it important?
Sustainable Use of the Fish Resources from Lake Balkhash, one's International River.
Perspectives
The total fish harvest from Lake Balkhash is currently at near historical lows, not just because of environmental factors, but also because of structural changes triggered by the collapse of the Soviet Union. Poaching, government disinterest, lack of enforcement of fishing regulations, and the economic challenges faced by today’s small fishing enterprises all contribute to the problem.
Professor Buho Hoshino
Rakuno Gakuen University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Challenges for Sustainable Use of the Fish Resources from Lake Balkhash, a Fragile Lake in an Arid Ecosystem, Sustainability, April 2018, MDPI AG,
DOI: 10.3390/su10041234.
You can read the full text:
Contributors
The following have contributed to this page
