Despite the shallowing of rivers and the shortage of water resources, the fisheries committee does not currently envisage adjusting the industry's development plans. At the same time, the committee chairman, Serik Sermagambetov, outlined the measures being taken to minimise corruption risks when issuing permits and conducting tenders.
WHAT WAS SAID IN RESPONSE TO FBRK QUESTIONS
As Serik Sermagambetov reported at a press conference at the Central Communications Service (CCS), in response to questions from FBRK, the shallowing of rivers and the shortage of water resources fall under the remit of the Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation. At the same time, the fisheries committee, when determining catch limits and stocking volumes, relies on scientific justifications and continues to implement the approved industry development plan.
According to the head of the committee, the falling water level in the Zhaiyk River could lead to the formation of isolated bodies of water, where there is a risk of fish kills. He stated that such cases were recorded in WKO at the beginning of 2026 and had also occurred in previous years.
WHY ADJUSTMENTS ARE NOT YET REQUIRED
Serik Sermagambetov noted that the current hydrological situation has not affected the implementation of fisheries development plans. According to him, the catch limits for fish resources based on last year's results did not decrease but increased by approximately 9–10%. Consequently, the committee does not currently envisage adjusting the existing plans.
HOW THE COMMITTEE REDUCES CORRUPTION RISKS
Serik Sermagambetov stated that corruption scandals negatively impact trust in state bodies, so the committee adheres to a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption offences.
According to him, the main corruption risks were previously associated with the issuance of permits and the conduct of tenders. To minimise these, the committee has transferred the processing of certificates of origin and fish catch, as well as permit documents, to an electronic format through the E-Fish system.
Furthermore, tenders are conducted on the Ministry of Finance's E-Qazyna platform, where document review and the selection of winners are carried out digitally, without direct interaction between civil servants and entrepreneurs.
CONTEXT
The issue of corruption risks within the fisheries committee remains relevant following the criminal case against the former committee chairman, Nariman Zhunusov. According to the investigation, funds were channelled through the head of the fisheries resources department in exchange for general patronage.
On 21 May 2024, the Inter-District Criminal Court of Astana found him guilty of accepting a bribe and sentenced him to 6 years in prison, with a lifetime ban from holding positions in the civil service and the quasi-public sector.
