A joint Russian-Kazakh scientific expedition went to the valley of the Ural to identify ecological and hydrological changes that have occurred in the mid-channel of the river over the past 40 years. One of the main objectives of the project is to assess the factors affecting the possibility and effectiveness of natural reproduction of sturgeon fish.
The expedition is attended by the employees from the Institute of Steppe of the Ural Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences, M. Utemisov West Kazakhstan University, and specialists from environmental authorities of Kazakhstan. The expedition is led by the Vice-President of the Russian Geographical Society, Academician Alexander Chibilev.
The last expedition studies of fishing grounds on the Ural River from the mouth of the Ilek to the mouth of the Chagan were carried out in 1980-1982 and 1992. Then they were also led by Alexander Chibilev. The result of the work was the "Spawning Grounds Atlas of Sturgeon of the Ural River".
The results of the current expedition will be used to develop recommendations for the Russian-Kazakh Commission for the Conservation and Restoration of the Ecosystem of the Ural River Basin.