The Department of the Fishery Complex under the Ministry of Water Resources, Agriculture, and Processing Industry of the Kyrgyz Republic has presented a comprehensive plan for the restoration of biological resources in the key high-altitude lakes of the country. This large-scale initiative for fish stocking is being carried out 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 plan for 2026, 14.1 million fry will be released into Issyk-Kul, and 3.5 million fry into Son-Kul. The focus is on the reproduction of the most valuable species, such as Issyk-Kul trout, carp (common carp), and the lenok. All planned activities have been coordinated with the Institute of Biology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Kyrgyz Republic, where experts emphasize that with 26 species of fish present in Issyk-Kul, artificial replenishment of stocks is critical for maintaining ecological balance.
It is important to note that active stocking efforts have also been conducted over the past two years. In 2024, more than 27 million fry were released into both lakes, while in 2025, this figure was around 19 million. In addition to stocking, department specialists, together with divers from the Ministry of Emergency Situations and the environmental police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, continue to clear the lakes of poaching nets. The system, which combines a ban on fishing and active reproduction, aims to restore the fish wealth of the lakes.
