International aquaculture expert Prof. Patrick Sorgeloos from Ghent University (Belgium) conducted a research expedition to the Northern Aral Sea in Kyzylorda province from 19th to 23rd of September 2022 within ECO-ARAL project to explore the potential of environmentally friendly and sustainable farming of Artemia and other aquaculture species.

Representatives of the Executive Board of the International Fund for Saving the Aral Sea in Kazakhstan and the Aral branch of Fisheries Research and Production Centre also joined the expedition. In addition, Prof. Sorgeloos had meetings with representatives of the Fisheries Committee of the Ministry of Ecology and Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Association for Research, Production and Processing of Artemia cysts, Fisheries Research and Production Centre, Kyzylorda Territorial Fisheries Inspection of the Ministry of Ecology and Geology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the Natural Resources and Environmental Regulation Department of the Kyzylorda akimat, and visited the Kamystybas fish nursery.

As a result of the expedition and meetings, Prof. Sorgeloos made a preliminary assessment that the Northern Aral Sea area has great potential for cultivating artemia and other crustacean species in artificial ponds, as well as developing cage fish farming on small lakes. The need for a more detailed study of water sources, their chemical composition, soil, and climatic parameters of the region was also noted.

Photo: ©GIZ, ECO-ARAL