CASPIAN STURGEON CONSERVATION ISSUE HAS BECOME A REAL CONCERN

Sturgeons are one of the ancient fishes on the earth, and it is likely that due to this fact their caviar is renown for its good taste and food quality. They underwent many natural cataclysms on the earth: sharp climate changes, large fluctuations of the sea level and its borders etc. Today sturgeon species are on the verge of extinction.

Decline of stocks and catches of the Caspian sturgeons, accelerated over the past decade since the break-up of the Soviet Union, is caused by a combination of environmental factors, particularly the loss of breeding grounds, and economic factors, like rapid industrialisation causing construction of huge dams in the Kura and Volga rivers, and mainly due to over-fishing. But presently poaching is of the greatest concern. Widespread and large scale of poaching is a fact. Current stocks are largely the result of artificial reproduction.

Analysis of data on meat and caviar harvested in one of the five countries, which controls its fisheries fairly well comparing to the other four, witnesses that there is tendency to decline in sturgeon meat and caviar production since 1992, and relatively uneven division of catches between countries since 1989.

A series of meetings aimed at prioritising Sturgeon Conservation Actions to be held in Moscow, Russia, Londond, UK, Baku, Azerbaijan and other countries prove that the issue of the Caspian sturgeon conservation has become a real concern for the world community. The meetings gather sturgeon specialists from international community and the Caspian countries to review the sturgeon stock status and population, conservation strategy, fundraising and the Caspian Fisheries Management Scheme, proposed by the European Union / Tacis specialists of the Caspian Environment Programme.

The CEP (Tacis) fisheries and bioresources specialists have been assessing the Caspian fisheries situation and the needs for improved management and are in the process of drafting fisheries agreement to be hopefully adopted by the Caspian littoral countries. Strengthening capabilities to control poaching is not the only current necessity. Without the will of the Caspian littoral countries to exert these controls, the strengthened organisation would merely become a more effective poacher.

Prior to collapse of the Soviet Union, a number of international agreements relatively to the Caspian Sea were concluded between Persian, and then I.R.Iran, and the Soviet Union within 1921 - 1963. Only few of those commercial agreements mention fisheries, and no mention is made of conservation measures and management of fishery resources. Moreover, the majority of those agreements seem not to be implemented at present.

Since gaining independence in early 90-ies the Caspian States have started to realise that a number of issues have to be addresses with regard to the Sea. In 1992, a draft fisheries agreement was prepared and discussed among the five countries. However, the states failed to conclude the agreement because of different views as regards the coastal zones fishing and the legal status of the Sea.

There is now relative progress with respect to the legal status of the Sea, but the situation of fish stocks is rather serious and cannot wait for an agreement on the subject. Fisheries resources are dynamic and do not respect state boundaries. Hence, it may be said that these resources are of common interest. There is evident urgent need for management measures to all living resources of the Caspian Sea, and especially for such valuable species, like sturgeons.

There has been much concern in Russia and I.R.Iran about the decline in sturgeon catch / populations; Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have taken loans to increase hatchery output. However, there is no evidence of anti-poaching or trade control activities in the Caspian littoral countries yet.

There is a risk that the countries will soon come to agreement on sturgeon management, but in a way that concentrates on exploitation and does not include the elements that would support conservation.

The proposed Caspian Fisheries Management Scheme¹ is pursuing the following aims:

• foster and develop common approaches to fisheries management in the Caspian region;
• provide a basis for long-term international collaboration on fisheries management based on mutual interest; leading to
• the establishment of sustainable and equitable international management regime for transboundary fisheries.

The Caspian states should formally agree upon most essential measures:

• the principles and methodology to estimate and agree upon a total allowable catch (TAC), its division among five countries;
• an annual allowable TAC and division;
• measures to control and regulate fishing of sturgeon;
• harmonisation of laws and penalties for illegal sturgeon fishing and trade; and
• cooperative approach to the enhancement of sturgeon stocks, breeding and commercial culture.

Without a radical change in the management of sturgeon, stocks will continue to collapse. This management objective is the rebuilding the sturgeon stock. This requires a moratorium on sturgeon fishing until such time the stocks have recovered to a designated level. In turn, a moratorium requires substantial changes to the laws regarding fishing, processing, possessions, certification and trade in sturgeon.

Any continued sturgeon fishing must be restricted to a small number of monopoly producers and distributors. Monopolies may be undesirable economic arrangements, but in these circumstances the creation of monopolies may be the most effective mean. The sturgeon fishery is an exceptional industry, requiring exceptional and strong measures for its survival.

The CEP sturgeon management proposals recommended:

• a temporary moratorium on sturgeon fishing to allow recover;
• a small number of sturgeon monopolies² be created (subject to agreement between five countries).

Fisheries management proposals extend beyond the limits of the sturgeon species, and include changes to regulations on fishing methods.

Regardless of the legal status of the Caspian, and in particular in the absence of a legal settlement, a formal mechanism for management of the transboundary fisheries of the Caspian is urgently required. Delay may mean the complete collapse of the sturgeon resources.

¹ The term "management" implies a certain degree of control over the fishery.
² In I.R.Iran, SHILAT is a successful example of a sturgeon monopoly

Contact persons:

Stuart Gunn, the Caspian Environment Programme,
Programme Coordination Unit, Room 108,
Government Building, 40 Uzeir Gadjibekov Street,
Baku 370016 Azerbaijan,
E-mail: stuartgunn@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