Poisson d’eau douce

Species scientific name: Stizostedion lucioperca, Cyprinus carpio, Abramis brama, Rutilus caspicus, Silurus glani

FAO area: Balkhash lake

Fishing method: Seine 

Initial Audit Report

Kazakhstan – Seine, Capron net – Stizostedion lucioperca, Cyprinus carpio, Abramis brama, Rutilus caspicus, Silurus glani – FAO 04 (Internal reservoirs of Kazakhstan)

Fishery client: LLP RYBPROM.
Fishing area: Balkhash Lake, Kapchagay reservoir.
Fishing vessels: The Company has a fleet of 18 vessels in the Reservoir Kapchagay and 26 vessels in the Balkhash Lake.
Vessels audited on site as fleet samples: КАЛ 1902; КАЛ 3500; КАЛ 3690; АЛМ 0055; КАЛ 1879; КАЛ 1877; КАЛ 1874; АЛМ 0063; И 145.
Fishing method:  Seine – Balkhash Lake.
Capron net – Kapchagay reservoir.

Certified species: Scientific name / Common name
Stizostedion lucioperca / Pike-perch
Cyprinus carpio / Common carp
Abramis brama / Bream
Rutilus caspicus / Roach
Silurus glani / Catfish

Management summary
The Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan, with support from its Fisheries Committee, manages fisheries according to national laws. The government agency draws up and approves the fisheries management plan annually. Under national law, a state inspector conducts daily inspections of industrial sites and inspects vessels and catches.

Stock status summary
Stock status is controlled by the State based on scientific research of Kazakh Research Institute of Fishery (KAZRIF) allocating quotas for the catch among users of natural resources for 1 year. All users must to provide a report to the fishing inspection on the number of fish recovered. The confirmation that stock status are normal is the allocation of quotas for fish catch. If stocks are reduced, the state prohibits catching fish or imposes time restrictions on fish catch time.

Bycatch / discards
The mesh size of the nets used in the Kapchagay reservoir is 10 cm. At Lake Balkhash, the seine has three sections and several mesh sizes (purse 40 mm, shoulder 40–45 mm, and leads 50 mm), since it is not regulated by law. All discards are immediately thrown into the water during the discharge of the net. According to the auditor, bycatches do not have exotic and threatened species and the level of disposal does not exceed 8%.

Habitat Impact
The fishing activity is carried out in areas reserved for the Company, which do not share borders with forbidden fishing zones. Both in Lake Balkhash and in Kapchagay reservoir, there is no contact with the lakebed due to the height of the nets.

Social Accountability performance
The fleet complies with the human rights and legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.

Conclusion with reasons for approval
The fleet complies with Friend of the Sea requirements, without non-conformities.