Drying up of the Aral Sea has resulted in dividing of its water space into Bolshoi (Big) and Maly (Small) Aral Sea. From that moment the changes of their hydrogeological and hydrochemical regimes occur independently. Bolshoi Aral is becoming more shallow and salty, by autumn 2003 its salinity in the north-east gulfs was 80-82%. Running of Syr Darya River off-flow into Bolshoi Aral could not stop this process. In October 2002 the Government of the Republic of Kazakhstan signed the Agreement on funding the project concerning regulation of Syr Darya River and Northern Part of Aral Sea with the World Bank. This Agreement stipulates the allocation of funds for construction of Kokaral dividing dam on the Small Aral Sea. The dam construction will make possible to restore, at least partially, the water space of the Northern part of Aral Seat, reduce water salinity and restore the numbers of valuable fresh-water species of food fish.

Spiny sturgeon and barbel have been always considered as the most valuable representatives of Aral Sea fish fauna. Since 1978 the harvesting of barbel in the Aral Sea has almost stopped. Currently the numbers of Aral barbel in Syr Darya River are rather insignificant. At present time both species have been put into Kazakhstan Red Data Book and specialists attach the dramatic decline in their numbers, first of all, to deterioration of the their reproduction conditions as a result of construction of hydroelectric power stations on Syr Darya River and increase of salinity of water space of Aral sea.

Artificial reproduction of barbel is essential among other measures to preserve this valuable and unique species of Kazakhstan fish fauna. At present time, construction of the dam in the desalted part of Maly Aral Sea creates favorable conditions for feeding migration of indigenous fish fauna, including Aral barbel. Under such circumstances the issue of restoration of Aral barbel population becomes urgent for reservation of its genofond and recovery of fishing value.

The project will have a mission to restore the commercial value of the valuable species of Aral Sea fish fauna and create the parent stock of Aral and Turkestan barbel on the basis of the fish farm and develop the practice of artificial breeding of these species for stocking the reviving fresh offshore waters of Maly Aral Sea with the young fish of these species trapped from the irrigation systems of Syr Darya downstream.

Objectives:
1.Create under conditions of lake-pond fish farming the parent stocks of two rare species to initiate the work on artificial breeding and stocking the offshore waters of Maly Aral Sea.
2.Raise the efficiency of measures to be taken to save the young fish coming to the irrigation systems of the rice-producing farms in downstream of Syr Darya River.
3.Improve the ecological consciousness of the local residents through their active involvement in solving the issues of preservation and maintaining the number of the valuable species of Aral Sea fish fauna and develop fish breeding as the effective addition and partial alternative to fishery in this region.

Expected outcomes:
1.Methods will be tested and the biological standards will be specified with regard to saving the young fish of valuable species from the dewatered irrigation systems of the rice-producing farms.
2.Methods of transportation of young Aral and Turkestan barbel for long distances and their pondfish farming will be developed.
3.The first in Kazakhstan fish farm engaged in restoration of the commercial stocks of barbels in Aral region will be established.
4.Work related to formation of the parent stock of Aral and Turkestan barbel for artificial reproduction and restoration of reserves of these valuable fish species in Maly Aral Sea will be initiated.