Top Uzbekistan Fish Catches

Uzbekistan, a landlocked country in Central Asia, has a modest but significant fishing industry centered around its rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, particularly the Amu Darya and Syr Darya rivers, and man-made water bodies like the Aydar-Arnasay lake system. Historically, fishing played a minor role compared to agriculture, but since the Soviet era, the industry has developed with the introduction of aquaculture and reservoir management. The top fish catches in Uzbekistan include carp (especially common carp and silver carp), catfish, zander (pike-perch), and grass carp, which are both wild-caught and farmed. The decline of the Aral Sea severely impacted traditional fisheries, prompting a shift to inland aquaculture and reservoir fishing. Today, Uzbekistan’s fishing industry focuses on providing local food security and employment, with ongoing efforts to modernize and sustainably manage fish stocks.

Data from FAO. 2025. Global Capture Production. In: Fisheries and Aquaculture.