The volume of the Small Aral Sea in Kazakhstan has increased to 23 billion cubic meters, according to Zakon.kz.
As reported by Almaty.tv, 50 cubic meters of water per second are currently flowing into Small Aral through the Aklak Dam.
They promise to strengthen the protective dam and begin a new phase of the Northern Aral Sea rescue project by the end of the year.
"The water salinity has increased significantly. Now there's a chance for fish to survive. I hope the water inflow will continue and remain as stable," Azimbay Zholmyrzayev, a resident of the village of Karateren says.
Another resident, Torekhan Dilzhanov, notes that the well-being of the villagers directly depends on the sea.
"Everyone is hopeful that the Aral Sea will continue to fill," Dilzhanov said.
It's worth noting that up to 8,000 tons of fish are caught in the Small Aral Sea annually.
Experts believe this result was achieved thanks to years of work to preserve the sea. For example, reconstruction of the Kokaral Dam began in 2022. Once completed, it will be possible to provide the sea with a stable water supply.
On January 20, 2026, at the 5th meeting of the National Kurultai in Kyzylorda, Kazakhstan's President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev addressed the issue of the drying up of the Aral Sea. He called solving this problem a task for all of humanity.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
February 12, 2026