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THE INVASION OF THE COMB JELLY MNEMIOPSIS LEIDYI TO THE CASPIAN SEA

- Problems, Perspectives, Needs for Actions -

The last year saw substantial quantities of Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Caspian Sea, a plankton organism threatening the Sea’s ecosystem balance, being an important competitor for food for fishes.

Mnemiopsis leidyi, which might have been responsible for dramatic drop of an anchovy species in the Black Sea, has most likely moved across the Atlantic as a stowaway in the ballast water of cargo ships to the Black Sea and then to the Caspian through the Volga-Don Canal.

Many experts from the Caspian littoral states and other countries have become alarmed about the potential severe risk to the Caspian ecosystem that these new species poses and are now meeting to consider how best to cope with the new situation. Since November 2000 the Caspian Environment Programme has been collating available information and consulting with a wide range of specialists, and is now hosting First International Workshop “The Invasion of the Comb Jelly Mnemiopsis to the Caspian Sea - Problems, Perspectives, Needs for Actions“. The three-day event, April 24 – 26, gathers biologists from five Caspian littoral countries as well as Ukraine, Belgium, Germany, Finland, Italy, United States, Australia and Turkey.

The effect of the new species on the equilibrium of the Caspian Sea ecosystem is also a cause of worry for the private sector: bp, Exxon Mobil, SOCAR and OKIOC will be participating in the discussions as well.

During the meeting scientists will look at:

The distribution and biology of Mnemiopsis in the Americas, Black Sea, Baltic Sea, Azov Sea, Mediterranean and Marmora Seas;

The impact of Mnemiopsis on the Caspian Sea Ecosystem and its consequences, Management of the invasion, and

A discussion on elaboration of an Action Plan for the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian Environment Programme is to hold a press conference on the first day of the event, April 24^th, between 13.00 p.m. – 13.30 p.m. and the last day, on April 26^th at 17.30 p.m. at “Irshad Hotel”, 11a, Vagif ave.

Contact persons:

Vladimir Vladymyrov,
the Caspian Environment Programme, Programme Coordination Unit,
Room 108, Government Building, 40
Uzeir Gadjibekov Street, Baku 370016 Azerbaijan,
E-mail: vladymyrov@caspian.in-baku.com
Phone:  + (99412) 97 17 85, 93 80 03
Fax: + (99412) 97 17 86

Elina Farmanova,
the Caspian Environment Programme, Programme Coordination Unit,
Room 108, Government Building, 40
Uzeir Gadjibekov Street, Baku 370016 Azerbaijan,
E-mail: efarmanova@caspian.in-baku.com
Phone: + (99412) 97 17 85, 93 80 03
Fax: + (99412) 97 17 86