OSCE supports roundtable discussion on causes of mass fish death in Ural River

An OSCE-supported roundtable discussion on environmental problems in the Atyrau Region including the recent death of numerous tonnes of fish in the Ural River concluded on 3 April 2019 in Atyrau, Kazakhstan.

The event was organized by the OSCE Programme Office in Nur-Sultan in partnership with the Association of Environmental Organizations.

Some 50 representatives from the local administration, regional water authorities, business community, and non-governmental environmental organizations participated in the event. The participants discussed possible causes of the fish death and preventive mechanisms to avoid similar environmental accidents in the country. National experts from the Association of Environmental Organizations presented the recent water samples analysis based on the private laboratory results to identify possible contaminants in the Ural river. Authorities are currently investigating possible causes of the incident.

The event is part of the Programme Office’s long-term efforts to promote the green economy and sustainable development principles to strengthen environmental security.