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Which fish species once lived in the Aral Sea?

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Before the Aral Sea experienced significant shrinkage due to water diversion for irrigation, it supported abundant fish populations. These once-thriving species included:

  • Sturgeon12
  • Carp12
  • Barbel12
  • Roach12

As the lake's volume decreased, the concentration of salt and minerals rose drastically, rendering the water uninhabitable for these fish and effectively destroying the local fishing industry.12