Documents

This scoping paper considers the interrelationship between the fisheries and the protection of the marine environment of the Caspian Sea.  It has been prepared in response to the request of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, during the first meeting of Conference of the Parties in May 2007 in Baku.[1]  The aim of the scoping paper is to support the Parties in their efforts to intensify their regional dialogue and to build their regional partnership for safeguarding the marine environment of the Caspian Sea for the benefit of present and future generations. 

[1] Statement of Ministers at the first Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, 25 May 2007, Baku, Republic of Azerbaijan.

There is a widespread perception that the Caspian is in a state of ecological decline, and that one aspect of this is a decline in biodiversity.  This is of particular concern, due to the status of the Caspian as a unique water body inhabited by a large number of endemic species.  There is also a widespread belief that the Caspian is very sensitive to the impacts of industrial activities and in particular to those associated with oil and gas production and transportation.

There no evidence that reduction in fish populations is the only possible cause of decline in tulka catch. Availability of existing stocks to fishery industry could be another immediate cause of decline in catches. This cause is more difficult to exam as little data is available on stocks relocation and changes in fish behaviour.

Decline of stock is reported and is considered as the most important factor. At the moment it is the only immediate cause possible to exam with sufficient data. It has several underline causes and each cause can has different impact to three species. According to Astrakhan Fishery Institute data stock of anchovy tulka reduced from 968 thousands tons in 1999 to 300 thousands tons in 2002, stock of big-eye tulka reduced from 112 thousand tons in 1999 to 4 thousands tons in 2004; and stocks of Caspian tulka remain in stability at the level of 400 thousands tons.

The Caspian Sea, world largest lake, is bordered by Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Turkmenistan. Out of 122 fish species and subspecies living in the Caspian Sea, 40 species are believed to be commercial and presently 25 species are the main exploited fish (Ivanov, 2000). At present sturgeons, tulka and Caspian Sea seals are considered as shared commercial stocks between Caspian Sea range states.

Public Participation is stimulated in key international instruments such as the 1998 Aarhus Convention (Convention on Access to Information, Public Participation in Decision-Matters), signed and ratified by many of the Caspian Sea countries, and builds on the requirements of the Commission on Sustainable Development to promote the implementation of Agenda 21 and the follow-up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development.  Public participation is required within the Aarhus Convention and is in line with the principle 10 of the Rio Declaration on Environment and Development, and the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

The Caspian Sea, world largest lake, is bordered by Azerbaijan Republic, Islamic Republic of Iran, Kazakhstan, Republic, Russian Federation and Turkmenistan. Its biodiversity is comprised of 1354 plant, animal and more than 122 fish species. Out of 122 fish species and subspecies living in the Caspian Sea, 40 species are commercial and presently 25 species are the main exploited fish. The Caspian Sea fishes are divided to four main groups, including 53 species Marine fishes (43.5%), 42 species (13.4%) of freshwater origin, 18 species (14.7%) anadromous and 9 species (7.4%) semi-anadromous. At present sturgeons, kilka and Caspian Sea seals are considered as shared stocks between Caspian Sea range states.

Strategy for Civil Society Engagement in the Protection of the Caspian Sea Marine Environment was presented at the COP3 in Aktau, Kazakhstan, 10–12 August 2011. It contains an analysis and a number of recommendations to improve access to information and participation in decision-making and action towards the implementation of the Tehran Convention and its Protocols at the local, national and regional levels.

We are pleased to announce the publication of the Proceedings of the Scientific Conference on the Climate Change in the Caspian Sea region. This collection includes all the abstracts selected by the Organizing Committee of the Conference. In addition, in the Proceedings you will find introductory words by key speakers of each section and welcome addresses from the guests of the Conference.

Scientific Conference on 27 and 28 October 2021 brought well over 80 leading scientists from the countries bordering the Caspian Sea together, to take stock and give a boost to research in the region underpinning the climate change policies and actions of Azerbaijan, IR Iran, Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Turkmenistan.

In 2001 the initial Caspian Regional Stakeholder Analysis was commissioned with the objective of identifying major stakeholder groups, their interests and impact on the Caspian environment. Also identification of potential conflicts between stakeholder groups was a key task of the initial study. In summer 2004 this follow-up study was conducted in order to observe trends in stakeholder interests, perceptions and concerns as they pertain to activities of the Caspian Environment Programme.

The tourist brochure describes interesting species of flora and fauna of the Ural River Delta and the adjacent coastal zone of the Caspian Sea.

Map of Tourism provided by Manana Kurtrubadze for the SOE (2018).

This brochure has been produced on behalf of the consortium developing the hydrocarbon deposits beneath the North East Caspian defined under the North Caspian Sea Production Sharing Agreement of 1997.

The concession area lies in a region of rich biodiversity recognized as being of international importance for its wildlife, including several species that are classified as endangered. The widely varying conditions in the North East Caspian include extreme seasonal temperature variations, long-term sea level change, short-term sea surges and retreats, high levels of turbidity and sediment movement, ice cover in winter and scouring of the seabed by moving ice.

This dynamic environment presents challenges for those who live and work in the area. It also means that the fauna and flora on land and at sea, are adapted to a significant level of environmental stress from continually changing physical conditions. 

The approach used in this assessment was to collect and analyze information on biodiversity and related areas through documentation searches and interviews with key individuals and organizations concerned with biodiversity, both throughout Kazakhstan and in Washington, D.C. (see Annex C, List of Persons Contacted). An extensive series of field trips was undertaken. 

The Forum is the first event held in the framework of theDay of Caspian Sea celebration .

"Oil and gas offshore fields' development, which is beingcarried out at difficult geological conditions, increases man-caused impacts on environment of the region and creates real emergencies, including oil spills, as hydrocarbon deposits are located in an ecologically sensitive area of ​​the sea. The consequences of possible industrial accident capable of impacting the territories of neighboring countries", said Bapy.

According to his words, for monitoring of oil fields in thenorth-eastern part of the sea, there was established the North Caspian ecological base for oil spill response. "Ak Beren" blowout response group specialists are annually trained in the UK.

Delegations from five Caspian littoral states - the Republic of Azerbaijan, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Republic of Kazakhstan, the Russian Federation and Turkmenistan attended the first meeting of the Commission.

On August 11, 2017, a number of events were held by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Azerbaijan (MENR) connected with the 12 August – “Caspian Day” for the purpose of raising public awareness with regard to the problems and conservation of the Caspian Sea. A meeting was held at MENR by way of the discussion of environmental issues of the Caspian Sea, implemented works and mechanism of involvement of the public in the protection of the Caspian Sea with the participation of certain governmental bodies, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), as well as the youth. Furthermore, a cleansing action was conducted at the coastal zone of Novkhani beach in order to increase the public role, and strengthen the collaboration with public on the betterment of the environmental state of the Caspian Sea and its littoral zone. It should be noted that 2 hectare area was cleaned during the cleansing action, and the collected wastes were recycled. The main objective of the celebration of “Caspian Day” is the strengths mobilization on the protection of the Caspian Sea environment from pollution, conservation, restoration, sustainable and effective use of biological resources of the sea, and public enlightenment in this sphere.