russian version

Z. Karpowicz
(FFI)

Key Conservation Issues in the Caspian Sea

Threats

A number of factors have been identified as threats to the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea. Most are related to human activities though some are a result of natural events.

Threats can be divided into six major groups:

• regulation of the flow of rivers entering the Caspian Sea;
• illegal and/or overfishing;
• changes in sea level;
• pollution;

• introduced species.

Regulation of river flows

Water is taken from the rivers flowing into the Caspian to be used in irrigation schemes. The reduction in annual flow due to water extraction for irrigation is estimated to be 9.2% in the Volga and over 60% in the Terek and Sulak rivers. In the 1930s, many reservoirs were created on rivers flowing into the Caspian as part of hydroelectric schemes. The capacity of these reservoirs is over 180 km3. It has been estimated that between 1956 and 1990 30 to 50km3 of water a year were lost to hydroelectric schemes. These schemes have caused a reduction in water level such that the current level would be 1:0 to 1.5 m higher had they not been introduced.

Reduction in river flows has a number of effects:

• reduction in the area of river deltas and their associated vegetation;

• loss of fish spawning grounds;

• shallower deltas block the passage of fish that migrate up rivers to spawn;

• dams and other obstacles block the routes for migratory fish species, such as sturgeon.

Hydroelectric plants may also discharge large amounts of water at certain times when the reservoirs become over full. These sudden discharges may damage riverine ecosystems and interfere with spawning migrations. Conversely, water flows may be controlled at other times such that riverbeds become almost dry.

Rivers flowing into the Caspian also carry high levels of pollutants though these are generally diluted once they reach the Sea. Reservoirs may in this case be beneficial as they may act as traps for pollutants that may otherwise enter the Caspian.

However, the reservoirs may also retain nutrients that are vital for the maintenance of biodiversity in the Caspian Sea.

Illegal and/or ouerfishing

The biological resources of the Caspian, principally the fish resources, are worth an estimated $US 5-6 billion a year. Fish catches have been falling, from 283,000 tonnes in 1951-55 to 81,000 tonnes in 1990-95. However, this has been mainly a result of economic recession in the fishing industry. Most commercially important species are not threatened, but some have been extirpated and sturgeons are currently threatened by illegal fishing.

The Caspian Sea is of global importance for sturgeons. At present, poaching is a serious threat to these fishes. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union, fishing regulations have not been implemented and the current authorities are not equipped to control poaching. Poaching is particularly severe along the western sea coasts. The Turkmen populations are threatened by poaching by other countries vessels. International collaboration is needed to control this problem.

Overfishing has affected other species such as trout, bream and zander in the Iranian area of the Caspian and zander in the Azeri and Turkmen areas.

Sea level changes

Natural events, such as climate and river discharges, can result in changes in the level of the Caspian. In the northern Caspian, changes in level can reach 0.5 m and surges can cause an increase in level of 1.5 to 2.0 m resulting in coastal inundations. In the 20th Century up to 1970, the level of the Caspian has fallen by almost 3 m. This has led to the reduction of river deltas and the drying up of shallow bays such as Kaidak and Mertviy Kultuk. Areas that were formally islands have become part of the mainland. The fall in sea level has caused problems for ships navigating the Sea and rivers. As a consequence destructive dredging has been undertaken, though sometimes the results have been the creation of islands that important for waterfowl. It is often not the changes in sea levels that themselves cause a major problem, but rather the responses of humans to these changes. One example is at Kara Bogaz Gol Bay. The bay was blocked with a dyke in 1980 in an attempt to counteract a fall in sea level. However, the area dried up to form a salt desert resulting in the loss of species that used the bay, such as flamingos, as well as the loss of a local mineral production industry. The dyke was removed in 1992 and the bay has become partially rehabilitated.

Between 1978 and 1996, the level of the Caspian has risen by about 2.5 m. This has damaged facilities located along the coast of the Sea and a pollutants have been released into the water causing localised problems. The most seriously affected areas
were on the west coast of the North Caspian. In the Atyrau area of Kazakhstan, the coastline moved 70 km inland flooding about 1 million ha of land. Oil and gas fields have been affected resulting in pollution that has affected fish spawning grounds, nesting areas for birds and seal rookeries. Increasing sea levels have also affected plant communities in the deltas of Caspian rivers. Rising sea levels do have positive impacts such as the increased areas of spawning grounds and increased productivity in the North Caspian.

Short-term surges or retreats do not have a major impact on plant and animal communities along the Caspian.

Caspian endemics generally benefit from the increased salinity that is brought about by overall lowering of the sea level.

Pollution

Pollution is a major threat. The chief sources of pollution are from industrial and agricultural activities, accidental discharges and sewage. Most of the pollution is from the Volga. In Turkmenistan, the main pollution is from the Turkmenbashi oil refinery. There is no significant pollution from Kazakhstan. Oil pollution is the most serious problem. The sources of oil pollution are primarily offshore wells. Oil can have a negative impact on marine life at relatively low concentrations, affecting feeding, reproduction and other activities. Heavy metals such as cadmium, zinc and copper may also accumulate in the tissues of fishes depressing the immune systems of the animals.

The Volga is described as "medium-polluted" and is principally affected by pollution from human activities, the water of the Middle and South Caspian is "medium-polluted" or "polluted". In Baku Bay, the seabed is covered with pollutants and no benthic fauna is present. The waters of the Azerbaijan sector are identified as polluted or heavily polluted. In the Turkmenistan sector, the most polluted waters are the Krasnovodsky Bay and Cheleken peninsula.

Pollution in the Caspian has primarily impacted sturgeon causing disease not previously seen. Seals have also suffered through the ffects of pollution.

Introduced species

In the 20th Century species from the Black and Mediterranean Seas were introduced into the Caspian by humans. These included algae, bivalves, crabs and fishes. Some species have been introduced into the Caspian via the ballast water of ships or on the bottom of vessels. Species from the Atlantic have reached the Caspian via the Volga-Don channel. Of particular concern has been the introduction of a Ctenophore species that feeds on zooplankton causing problems for plankton-feeding fish. This in turn may impact seal populations. It is necessary to develop a set of measures to protect the Caspian from the recently introduced Ctenophore species. It is necessary to have continuous monitoring of the species' distribution and to have strict controls on ballast water to prevent further accidental introductions.

• Re-evaluate the network of reserves in the Caspian region focusing on areas important for reproduction and feeding, for wintering and those used as migration routes.

• Analysis of data collected, emphasising the need for standardisation.

• Updating and circulation of a species list to act as a reference for future decision making.

• Cooperation with educational and research institutions, NGOs, governmental bodies and local authorities to assist in the development of monitoring programmes for the evaluation of biodiversity.

• Production of a Red Data Book on the threatened habitats of the region.

• Developing a standardised methodology for listing species, habitat types and distribution patterns.

Azerbaijan

Key recommendations include:

• Assessment of impact of fluctuations in level of the Caspian Sea particularly in the Biby-Eybat oilfields on the Apsheron Peninsula.

• Various activities relating to coastal zone management in view of potential threat from flooding.

• Various activities to tackle pollution.

• Various activities aimed at conserving sturgeon stocks.

• Establish tourist and recreational infrastructure.

• Reconstruct water supply system in populated areas to improve health of local people.

• Improve sanitary conditions and ban the discharge of untreated sewage into water bodies.

Iran

Key priority actions include:

• Establishment of a national sampling and monitoring programme covering marine, riverine and groundwater systems.

• Assessment of current levels of a variety of pollutants in both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems.

• Studies on various aspects of the biology and ecology of fishes.

• Identification of critical habitats.

• Review of coastal ecosystems particularly in relation to fluctuations in the level of the Caspian.

• Development of guidelines for tackling pollution issues.

• Sustainable use of natural resources, particularly sturgeons.

• Development of sturgeon hatcheries and small-scale sturgeon farms to tackle the issue of poaching.

• Establishing a coastal laboratory to monitor heavy metals and organic contaminants.

• Establishment of a centralised database for collating information from various sources.

• Development of laws and regulations as a framework for a regional coastal management plan.

• Strengthening national environmental administrative frameworks.

• Develop National Action Plan for marine conservation.

• Develop regulations to tackle issues of damming of rivers and unsustainability of fisheries.

• Involve NGOS, local officials and professional experts in environmental planning.

• Develop ecotourism in the Anzali Wetlands and the Golestan National Park in the Alburz Mountains.

• Training, education and information transfer for marine sector.

• Awareness campaigns for the general public.

Kazakhstan

Key priority actions include:

• Various activities aimed at improving the health and sanitary conditions of people living in the Caspian area.

• Assessment of the biodiversity of the Caspian region.

• Development of various schemes to protect sturgeon populations and their habitats in the Ural River.

• Establishing a centre for gathering information and conduction research on biodiversity conservation.

• Developing regulations to control fishing, both legal and illegal. Specifically this should target sturgeon.

• Develop a system of fish reserves.

• Create a system of reserves in the Atyrau oblast.

• Reduce the ecological impact of industrial activities.

• Assessment of environmental impact of proposed activities.

• Establishment of a series of monitoring stations looking at various potential pollutants and their effects at various levels in the food chain.

• Set up monitoring points in areas that are being prospected for oil and gas.

• Conduct EIA on the oil developments in the northeast Caspian Sea.

• Various controls to limit environmental damage from the oil industry.

• Develop schemes to deal with environmental disasters.

• Rehabilitation of lands impacted by industrial activities.

• Development of legal instruments at both a national and regional level.

• Coastal management and planning taking account of fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea.

Russia

Key priority actions at the regional level are as follows:

• Development and adoption of legal instruments covering regional environmental cooperation.

• Environmental impact assessment of projects associated with the exploitation of natural resources including oil and gas extraction and transportation projects.

• Integrated monitoring of the state of the environment in the Caspian region.

• Review of responses to emergencies (including accidents) associated with environment in the Caspian Sea.

• Adequate management of biological resources, particularly sturgeons.

• Conservation of biodiversity.

• Integrated management of the coastal environment because of fluctuations in the level of the Caspian Sea.

Turkmenistan

Some of the key priority actions at the regional and national level are as follows:

Regional

• Determination of the legal status of the Caspian Sea.

• Establishment of monitoring networks involving governments and international organisations.

• Oil companies to allocate funds for environmental actions.

• Establishment of an Environmental Fund.

• International agreement on monitoring and information exchange.

• All countries to be made aware of potentially damaging activities.

• Define the role of each country in tackling issues of pollution and the maintenance of biodiversity.

National

• Establishment of a National Centre to tackle issues of pollution, monitoring and biodiversity conservation.

• Public awareness initiatives in Balkan velayat.

• Controls on fishing in Balkan velayat.

• Technical assistance to Kaspekocontrol for development of monitoring systems snd reduction of pollution from marine vessel.

• Development of a network of protected wetland areas.

• Reconstruction of sewage system in Turkembashy, Cheleken and Beckdash.

• Strenghten coastal defences around chemical plant on Cheleken Peninsula.

• Install filters in chemical plants on Cheleken

• Improve the system of waste disposal in the Turkmenbashy oil-processing plant.

• Develop ecotourism

• Enhance environmental protection during the reconstruction of the Turkmenbashy sea port.

Sources

Biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, final draft.

Caspian Ecological Programme. Report published in Baku, Azerbaijan in 1998.

Caspian Ecological Programme. National Report. Report produced by Ministry of Natural Resources Use and the Environment Protection of Turkmenistan, Ashgabad, 1998.

Caspian Enuironmenta/ Program. Transboundary Diagnostical Analysis. National Report of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Report produced by Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Almaty, 1998.

Caspian Sea Environment. National Report of the Islamic Republic of Iran. No date.

Enuironmenta/ Problems of the Caspian Region. National Report of the Russian Federation. Report produced by State Committee of the Russian Federation foe Environmental Protection and Hydrometeorology, Moscow, 1998.

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