Strategies for the rehabilitation of the inland fisheries sector in Central Asia

Abstract

The dismantling of the Soviet Union and the corresponding independence of the Central Asian states in the early 1990s had severe economic consequences for the Central Asian Region. The transition from command to free-market economies was (and sometimes still is) accompanied by dramatic contractions in production in virtually all primary resource sectors. However, arguably the most catastrophic and ongoing declines in output were to be found in the fisheries sector. This study shows how a combination of ecological (most notably the introduction of alien invasive species and pollution), economic (increasing abstraction of water for irrigation and power generating purposes), social (increased impoverishment following the removal of employment guarantees) and governance (collapse of local management structures, decrease of support to the sector and deterioration of trade relationships with neighbouring countries) affected fisheries production and consumption in the Central Asian transition economies. In the light of these findings, some general observations as how this decline might be arrested or reversed are provided.

The Current Status and Future of Central Asia’s Fish and Fisheries: Confronting a Wicked Problem

“…At the time of the dissolution of the Soviet Union in 1991, regional fish production was more than 110,000 metric tons. By the end of the last century, reported capture (which may under-represent total capture [7]) had dropped by roughly three-quarters before progressively recovering to about 50% of its earlier level. Substantial country-by-country differences are, nonetheless, evident.…”

“…Although aquaculture production in the former remains at less than 5% of its previous level, Uzbekistan has managed to boost its production to a level exceeding that achieved under the Soviets by more than 50%. This likely reflects both Uzbek priorities and the attention paid to largescale aquaculture infrastructure that was created by the Soviets to offset the decline in capture fisheries accompanying destruction of the Aral Sea [7,24]. Aquaculture in Central Asia enjoyed a long history of development and sustained support during Soviet times.…”

“…Many functioned as hatcheries or nurseries for carp and related herbivorous species, but several near Almaty (including the only two in private hands) were engaged in commercial production. Lack of access to water and fish food, as well as free-market pressures, stand out as operating challenges [7,26]. Table 2.…”

“…It is against this backdrop that fish production in the Soviet Union and its successor republics in Central Asia dropped sharply and then recovered modestly. Although the reasons are complex and vary from republic to republic [7], three major factors emerge.…”

“…Whether captured or produced via aquaculture, fish provide income and local employment, often in rural areas, and they can be a significant source of high-quality protein in human diets [6]. These benefits notwithstanding, fish have been disadvantaged by the cumulative effects of overfishing and watermanagement decisions that have been made over many decades [6][7][8][9]. Here, we examine this situation from a regional and systems perspective, placing emphasis on the factors most likely to govern the future viability of these important aquatic organisms.…”