Balykchi Fish Farm (20647)
Uzbekistan, Central Asia
Site overview
KBA status: confirmed
Global KBA criteria: D1a
Year of last assessment: 2006
National site name: Balykchi Fish Farm
Central coordinates: Latitude: 40.8778, Longitude: 68.7562
System: freshwater, terrestrial
Elevation (m): 245 to 277
Area of KBA (km2): 42.11788
KBA classification: Global
Legacy site: Yes
Site details
Site description: The 'Balikchi' Fish-farm is situated in the flat country of NE Uzbekistan, 5-6 km to the south of the town of Chinaz on the right bank of the Sirdarya river. This territory belongs to the Low-Chirchic district of Tashkent region and borders on Sirdarya region. 'Balikchi' is one of the unique non-natural reservoirs in the middle stretches of the Sirdarya river. It became operational in 1961. Fish are raised from eggs to a marketable weight. There are finishing and breeding ponds and an experimental acclimatization section here. There are two sources of water supply: by gravity from a canal from the Chirchik river and a pump station on the Sirdarya river. Water is released by gravity into the Sirdarya river. The climate is rather wet, with 300-700 mm of atmospheric precipitation a year.
Rationale for qualifying as KBA: This site qualifies as a Key Biodiversity Area of international significance that meets the thresholds for at least one criterion described in the Global Standard for the Identification of KBAs.
Additional biodiversity: The ecological conditions at the 'Balikchi' Fish-farm (rich feeding and places to rest and nest) attract many waterbirds, especially piscivorous species. 104 species have been recorded. Aythya nyrоса and Coracias garrulus are included on the IUCN List of threatened animal species. Pelecanus onocrotalus, Phalacrocoraх pygmaeus, Egretta garzetta, Platalea leucorodia, Ciconia ciconia, Aythya nyrоса, Pandion haliaetus, Haliaeetus albicilla and Larus ichthyaetus are included in the National Red Book (2006). Non-bird biodiversity: Mammals include nutria and jackal; amphibians and reptiles Rana ridibunda, Bufo viridis, Natrix tessellata, Pseudopus apodus, Vipera renardi, Coluber sp., Ablepharus pannonicus; fish Cyprinus carpio, Hypophthalmichthys molitrix, Ctenopharygodon idella, Ictalurus punctatus, Channa argus and Gambusia afinis. Wild poplar, osier willow, oleaster, Oriental plane and White poplar grow here. There are reedbeds on the shores of active ponds and tamarisk bushes on abandoned ponds.
Delineation rationale: Coordinates and area of this IBA were calculated with ArcGIS.
Habitats
Summary of habitats in KBA: Open water, reedbeds, abandoned ponds covered with trees and bushes, dams, cliffs, islands, canals, buildings and gardens provide a diverse range of habitats. The sole use of the area is for fish-breeding.
Land use: fisheries/aquaculture (100%)
| IUCN Habitat | Coverage % | Habitat detail |
|---|---|---|
| Wetlands(Inland) | 100 |
Threats
Summary of threats to biodiversity at KBA: Birds, especially piscivorous species, are persecuted by station workers. Birds also suffer from reed burning and an unstable hydrological regime, especially when ponds are being filled. There is poaching on the station's territory.
| Threat level 1 | Threat level 2 | Threat level 3 | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Biological resource use | Hunting & collecting terrestrial animals | Intentional use (species being assessed is the target) | Ongoing |
| Biological resource use | Fishing & harvesting aquatic resources | Unintentional effects: large scale (species being assessed is not the target) [harvest] | Ongoing |
| Human intrusions & disturbance | Work & other activities | Ongoing |
Additional information
References: 1.Data of the count of watebirds in 'Balikchi' fish-station 12.12.2005 (in Russian) 2.E. Shernazarov (2006) Report on field surveys of IBA Balikchi (in Russian)