Over 650 kg of trash removed from Issyk-Kul in seven months

Lake Issyk-Kul is undergoing a significant cleanup operation, with authorities removing substantial amounts of waste and abandoned fishing gear. Since the beginning of 2026, over 650 kilograms of trash and 24.3 kilometers of synthetic fishing nets have been extracted from the lake's waters.

The Ministry of Natural Resources, Ecology, and Technical Supervision reported that the cleanup is ongoing and intensive. In a recent three-day period alone, from August 11 to August 13, specialists managed to collect 6.8 kilometers of old synthetic nets and 140 kilograms of various types of waste.

These environmental protection measures are crucial for the health of Issyk-Kul, one of the largest mountain lakes in the world. The primary goals of the operation are to improve the lake's overall ecological status, conserve its rich biodiversity, and mitigate the negative consequences stemming from illegal fishing practices.

The removal of discarded nets is particularly important, as they pose a significant threat to aquatic life, leading to entanglement and death for fish and other organisms. The accumulated trash also pollutes the water and harms the delicate ecosystem of the lake.