Kazakhstan’s fishing industry is centered around its vast inland water resources, including the Caspian Sea, the Aral Sea, and numerous rivers and lakes such as Lake Balkhash. Historically, the industry flourished during the Soviet era, particularly around the Aral Sea, which was once one of the world’s richest inland fisheries. However, environmental degradation, especially the shrinking of the Aral Sea, led to a sharp decline in fish stocks and catches. Today, the top fish species caught in Kazakhstan include carp, zander (pike-perch), catfish, bream, and sturgeon, the latter prized for its caviar. While the industry has contracted from its Soviet heyday, there are ongoing efforts to rehabilitate fish populations and modernize fishing practices, with commercial and artisanal fisheries contributing to local economies and food security.
| Rank | Fish Species | Metric Tons |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Freshwater bream | 17,532 |
| 2 | Pike-perch | 5,217 |
| 3 | Caspian roach | 4,845 |
| 4 | Crucian carp | 2,791 |
| 5 | Roaches nei | 2,586 |
| 6 | Pomfrets, ocean breams nei | 1,546 |
| 7 | Common carp | 1,514 |
| 8 | Northern pike | 1,509 |
| 9 | European perch | 1,218 |
| 10 | Asp | 1,056 |
| 11 | Mullets nei | 912 |
| 12 | Wels(=Som) catfish | 904 |
| 13 | Sichel | 510 |
| 14 | Vendace | 188 |
| 15 | Cyprinids nei | 141 |
| 16 | Silver carp | 127 |
| 17 | White bream | 61 |
| 18 | Grass carp(=White amur) | 24 |
| 19 | Diadromous clupeoids nei | 10 |
| 20 | Starry sturgeon | 1 |
Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.