In the Akmola Region, inspectors from the Burabay State National Nature Park uncovered a major case of poaching on Lake Zhukei. Residents of Astana were illegally catching fish using nets in the specially protected natural area of the Tyomny Bor Forestry.
According to the park's press service, before their detention, the poachers had managed to catch 464 fish, including 439 carp with a total weight of 631.6 kg and 25 crucian carp weighing 8.7 kg.
"This is the largest case of fish poaching recorded within the territory of the Burabay National Park in the last 5 years. The amount of damage caused is 9,132,827 tenge. All materials regarding this offence have been handed over to the police department of the Birzhan sal district for further investigation," the statement reads.
It is noted that cases of illegal fish harvesting are most frequently recorded on Lake Zhukei. This year, out of eight official poaching incidents on the park's lakes, five were committed on Lake Zhukei. All offenders have been held criminally liable, and they caused damage amounting to 2.5 million tenge.
The national park has promised that by the end of this year, smart video surveillance systems, the Smart National Park Burabay, will be installed on Lake Zhukei. It is expected that this will make it possible to effectively monitor the situation on the body of water and promptly stop cases of poaching.
"We expect that the introduction of modern video surveillance technologies on the lakes will not only deter poachers and ensure the preservation of the ichthyofauna, but will also become a powerful deterrent for those who damage rocks and litter," said Sergei Bykov, Director of the Burabay State National Nature Park.