In Aktobe, the causes of a mass die-off of fish and birds at the reservoir are being investigated. Specialists have begun examining the water body and conducting laboratory tests.
WHAT THE LOCAL RESIDENT DISCOVERED
On 28 September, a local resident published a video from the Aktobe reservoir. According to her, numerous carcasses of dead birds and fish were lying along the shore. Some birds were headless, and threads were visible on their necks.
The woman also drew attention to thick grey foam on the water and a large amount of rubbish. According to her, fragments of broken bottles were lying everywhere, which had previously injured her daughter's foot.
The author of the video said that she had come to the water body to relax in nature, but what she saw shocked her. She also noted that a poultry factory is located nearby.
The blogger expressed concern about the state of the water body and said that a few weeks before publication, her children had swum in this water.
HOW THE AUTHORITIES RESPONDED
After the video was published, specialists from the Tobol-Torgai Interregional Basin Fisheries Inspection began an investigation. The inspection reported that it had sent employees to the Aktobe reservoir to examine the water body.
The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources also reported that specialists from the Aktobe Regional Territorial Inspection and the Department of Ecology are working at the site.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CAUSES OF DEATH
Specialists are taking samples of water and biological material, as well as conducting laboratory tests. Their task is to establish the causes of the death of the fish and birds.
At present, the official cause of the incident has not been established.
The Ministry of Ecology promised to provide additional information after receiving the results of laboratory analyses.
CONTEXT
Mass bird deaths have previously been recorded in other regions of Kazakhstan. In September 2026, a mass bird die-off was recorded at Lake Zhaman in Kostanay Region. The Chairman of the Kostanay Regional Society of Hunters and Fishermen, Anatoly Kovalenko, suggested that pesticides from nearby fields could have been the cause.
In June 2026, residents of the village of Saumalkol in Aiyrtau District of North Kazakhstan Region (NKR) also reported a mass die-off of waterfowl on the lake of the same name. Villagers linked the incident to pollution of the water body and demanded an environmental inspection.
Incidents involving fish are also attracting particular attention. In 2026, reports of mass fish kills came from several regions. At the same time, the causes of the death of aquatic inhabitants differed significantly in different cases.
In August 2026, in the Birsutat channel of Irgiz District, Aktobe Region, a mass fish kill was discovered, including carp, pike, perch, bream and crucian carp. The district department of agriculture explained that the channel is not replenished from other sources and is gradually becoming shallower. Specialists took samples of water and fish, but did not establish the final cause of death.
In Shymkent, the cause of the death of fish in the Badam river was a ruptured sewer pipe, after which sewage entered the water body. 902.6 kg of fish died, and the damage amounted to KZT 2.3 million. StroyGarant XXI LLP was held administratively liable and obliged to remedy the violation.
The FBК compared cases of mass death of fish and birds in different regions of Kazakhstan. The analysis showed that identical external signs of fish kills do not indicate a single cause. In some cases, it involved the shallowing of water bodies, in others — possible water pollution or confirmed discharge of sewage.
To establish the cause of the animals' death, it is necessary to examine the oxygen content, temperature and acidity of the water, as well as conduct laboratory tests for petroleum products, heavy metals, pesticides and nitrogen and phosphorus compounds. Without the results of such studies, it is impossible to reliably determine the source of the problem and establish whether the death of the animals is linked to the activities of a specific enterprise.
