The Aral Sea, once the fourth-largest lake in the world, is located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. It is a closed basin with no outflow, which means it relies entirely on incoming rivers. Since the 1960s, the Aral Sea has been shrinking dramatically due to Soviet-era irrigation projects that diverted the rivers feeding it to irrigate farmlands, particularly for cotton production. By the end of the 20th century, the sea had shrunk to just 10% of its original size, leaving behind scattered patches of water and vast stretches of barren desert.
In an effort to reverse this environmental disaster, Kazakhstan undertook a significant dam project in 2005 to restore the northern part of the sea. This project, aimed at replenishing the North Aral Sea, has shown some success. Water levels have begun to rise, salinity has decreased, and the fishing industry, once decimated, has started to recover. The resurgence of fish has attracted people from surrounding regions, including those involved in a unique form of fishing.
During the harsh winter months, when the lake freezes over, fishermen travel from distant villages to take advantage of the frozen waters. These seasonal workers often stay for three months, braving the cold and harsh conditions. They drill holes in the thick ice to fish for the growing population of fish beneath. This ice fishing tradition has become a crucial part of the economy for the remote villages around the North Aral Sea. In summer, fishing continues with small boats, but it is the winter months that bring workers from far and wide to sustain the recovering industry.
While the Aral Sea's recovery remains modest, the revival of its fishing industry offers hope for the people who depend on it, showing the resilience of both the environment and the communities that rely on it.
Fisherman on the frozen Aral Sea. The temperatures reach minus 20-30C during winter months and the ice fishing season lasts about 3-4 months. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
The Aral Sea is a lake that was once the fourth largest in the world. It is a lake with no outflow. The Aral Sea is located between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the former Soviet Union. The Aral has been shrinking since the sixties after the rivers that supply it were diverted for Soviet irrigation projects for Uzbek farmlands and cotton plantations. By the end of the 20th century the Aral Sea had declined to 10% of its original size dividing it in small patches of water and ever increasing dried up desert stretches. In an effort to replenish the North Aral Sea and revive a deciminated fishing industry, Kazakhstan has completed a dam project in 2005. Water levels have started to rise and salinity decreased, making fishing viable again and attracting more and more people from surrounding areas again. During the harsh winter fishermen stay for periods of 3 months on the frozen lake and come fishing from places well beyond the Aral Sea villages. In summertime fishing is done with small boats. What has often been called as one of the worst environmental disasters is slowly experiencing a modest revival for the population of the remote North Aral Sea villages in Kazakhstan. Fozen tracks in the Aral steppe. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
A fisherman fetching the net through the hole in the ice. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Tastubek village few kilometers of the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fisherman at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen on the frozen Aral Sea. The temperatures reach minus 20-30C during winter months and the ice fishing season lasts about 3-4 months. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fetching the catch from the net. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
A fisherman fetching the net through the hole in the ice. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Stranded shipwreck in the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Petrol distribution before heading with trucks on the frozen Aral Sea. Base camp of the ice fishermen, Kazakhstan, January 2019
A fishermen base camp on the Aral Sea. Fishermen from surrounding villages and further away would come here and stay for about 3 months to do ice fishing on the Sea. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Stranded shipwreck in the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
The Aral Sea in Kazakhstan, January 2019
A fishermen base camp on the Aral Sea. Fishermen from surrounding villages and further away would come here and stay for about 3 months to do ice fishing on the Sea. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Teams of ice fishermen heading out with their trucks on the frozen Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
A fisherman heading out to maintain the ice holes. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Appraoching Zhalanash, one of the few villages around the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
A boy eating camel meat. Tastubek, Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
A track on grassland once covered by the Aral Sea. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Stranded shipwreck in the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Loading fish for further transport and sale to the city of Aralsk. Base camp on the Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Cleaning a fresh catch before it gets frozen. At temperatures of minus 30C, the fish caught freezes instantly. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen retrieving the net through the hole in the ice. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen on the frozen Aral Sea. The temperatures reach minus 20-30C during winter months and the ice fishing season lasts about 3-4 months. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen retrieving the net through the hole in the ice. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen base camp on the shore of the Aral Sea. The closest village is a 90 minutes drive away. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen at work on the Aral Sea during the ice fishing season. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Pulling the fishing nets. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Remainders of a dock on the Aral Sea near Zhalanash. Kazakhstan, January 2019
Fishermen fetching the catch. Aral Sea, Kazakhstan, January 2019
Camels with their thick fur during the cold winter in the Steppe around the Aral Sea. Zhalanash, Kazakhstan, January 2019
A fishermen base camp on the Aral Sea. Fishermen from surrounding villages and further away would come here and stay for about 3 months to do ice fishing on the Sea. Interior of a living space in one of the containers. Kazakhstan, January 2019
