Bishkek, May 5, 2026 /Kabar/. On May 4, Speaker of Jogorku Kenesh Marlen Mamataliev visited the Tyup and Issyk-Kul districts, where he participated in environmental cleanups of the bottom and shore of Lake Issyk-Kul.
According to the parliament's press service, the speaker initially participated in a cleanup of the lakeshore along with members of Jogorku Kenesh, members of Cholpon-Ata City Council, and young people. The participants then dived underwater and removed waste from the bottom that posed a threat to flora and fauna.
Marlen Mamataliev emphasized that Issyk-Kul is a unique natural heritage site. "Unfortunately, the amount of waste has recently increased not only on the shore but also on the lakebed, especially from illegally installed synthetic fishing nets, which cause serious damage to the ecosystem. Although it's invisible from the outside, pollution is leading to a reduction in biodiversity, fish kills, and an imbalance in the ecological balance. Today, we witnessed this firsthand, having removed a large amount of trash and synthetic nets," he said.
The speaker also noted that the head of state has been paying special attention to this problem for three years now, including signing a decree to that effect. "Our president constantly calls for careful treatment of Lake Issyk-Kul. The situation is truly alarming. Specifically, approximately 6,000 kilometers of poaching nets have been removed from the lakebed, equivalent to a distance of 15 trips to the city of Karakol. Unfortunately, such illegal activities continue. Therefore, today we are submitting a corresponding bill for public discussion, which provides for tougher penalties for illegal fishing using nets. If adopted, fines will be increased, and those who set the nets could even face prison time," he said.
It is noted that the bill "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts of the Kyrgyz Republic Concerning Strengthening the Protection of Water Bodies in the Kyrgyz Republic," initiated by deputies led by Marlen Mamataliev, was submitted for public discussion today.