From the government reserve, 305 million tenge have been allocated to NJSC «Kazakh Research Institute of the Caspian Sea» (KazNII). The corresponding resolution was signed by Prime Minister Olzhas Bektenov.
According to the department's press service, the institute was established on the instructions of President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev to study the environmental problems of the Caspian Sea.
It is noted that the scope of KazNII's activities includes issues of assessing fish stock levels, developing methods and technologies for their conservation, studying ichthyofauna, the causes of mass seal die-offs, and preserving their population.
"In addition, it specialises in studying the sea's hydrological processes and monitoring its level, analysing climate changes and their impact on the ecosystem, collecting and analysing data on water quality, biological diversity and other parameters of the Kazakhstani part of the Caspian Sea's waters and coastline," the statement reads.
The funds allocated from the government reserve will be directed towards the further development of the institute. This is expected to allow for timely and effective research work and to address other tasks set for KazNII.
For context, environmentalists previously reported that the level of the Caspian Sea is falling by approximately 70 centimetres annually. According to the international movement Save the Caspian Sea, in some areas of Kazakhstan the shoreline has already receded by 18 kilometres.
Experts draw parallels with the dried-up Aral Sea, emphasising that inaction could lead to the loss of the body of water.