Kazynaly Caspian Festival unites culture, tourism and fisheries in Atyrau

The international festival 'Kazynaly Caspian' took place in Atyrau to celebrate cultural ties among Caspian nations. The event also aimed to boost tourism and support the growth of Kazakhstan’s fisheries sector. Atyrau Region, known as the heart of the country’s fishing industry, hosted the festival along the Ural River. During the festival, an open-air art exhibition called 'Art Beineleu' displayed works by local artists along the riverbanks. Among them was artist Miras Abayev, who spent nearly a month creating a painting inspired by the Ural and Caspian rivers. The festival also included a major fish and seafood fair, where locally produced fish like carp, pike-perch, asp, catfish, and sturgeon were showcased.

An environmental initiative was launched to help restore fish stocks in the Ural River. Over three thousand young sturgeon, each weighing more than 3.5 grams, were released into the water. This effort supports Kazakhstan’s broader fisheries development program, which runs until 2030 and focuses on expanding aquaculture to ensure food security and reduce strain on natural water bodies.

Kazakhstan currently has around 700 fish farms producing 26,000 tons of farmed fish annually. Additionally, 20 key water bodies yield about 50,000 tons of fish each year. Over 40 investment projects worth nearly 60 billion tenge are underway in the sector, including a Norwegian-backed project by Organic Fish to farm sea trout in the Caspian. The festival highlighted Atyrau Region’s role as a hub for sturgeon breeding, fish processing, and aquaculture. The sturgeon release and investment projects demonstrate ongoing efforts to sustain and grow Kazakhstan’s fisheries. These steps align with the national program to secure food supplies and protect natural ecosystems.