The Astrakhan Region Governor, Igor Babushkin, has proposed to his Kazakh counterparts to join Russia's initiative to ban the fishing of roach due to dwindling numbers. This ban, in place until 2025, is already being observed in the Astrakhan Region, with the exception of a few days in April. Babushkin voiced concerns that without this ban, the roach population would disappear. The governor also discussed cultural and shipbuilding orders with Kazakh officials, and invited Kazakh students to study in Astrakhan. The trade turnover between the Astrakhan region and Kazakhstan has seen significant growth in the first half of the year.