Room 108, 3rd entrance
Government Building
40 Uzeir Hadjibeyov St.
Baku 370016, Azerbaijan
Tel.: (994 12) 97 17 85, 93 80 03
Fax: (994 12) 97 17 86
E-mail: caspian@caspian.in-baku.com
Web: http://www.caspianenvironment.org/
|
Programme
Coordination Unit Room 108, 3rd entrance Government Building 40 Uzeir Hadjibeyov St. Baku 370016, Azerbaijan Tel.: (994 12) 97 17 85, 93 80 03 Fax: (994 12) 97 17 86 E-mail: caspian@caspian.in-baku.com Web: http://www.caspianenvironment.org/ |
E-bulletin. The Caspian - February 2002
IN THIS ISSUE: CEP & REGIONAL NEWS COUNTRY NEWS PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES CEP &
REGIONAL NEWS INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE “THE CASPIAN – LEGAL
ISSUES” was held in Moscow, 26-27 February 2002. The legal status of the
Caspian Sea, legal regulation of monitoring and environmental protection, development of
mineral and biological resources, and navigation were the main themes of the meeting. The
official position of Russia was expressed by Special representative for the President RF
Viktor Kalyuzhny, the concept implies division of the sea bottom with concurrent
possession of the states on the Caspian waters. Another concept - dividing shares in
proportion to the respective coastal line of each country; according to this division the
share of Azerbaijan will be the least. Despite certain disagreements on this issue, the
littoral countries are common in their opinion that the decision on the Caspian status
should be reached urgently; it is closely connected with further activities and
investments in oil exploration and development. Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Mehdi
Safari declared that the Government of I.R.I. will not permit the international companies
develop the natural wealth of the sea until its legal status is reconciled. In the opinion of Viktor Kalyuzhny, among the pressing
problems to be decided jointly by the Caspian countries are conservation and management of
unique Caspian bioresources. Russia proposed establishment of Center for environmental
monitoring of the Caspian Sea, which should include the interests of all riparian
countries. The scientists and environmental organizations are deeply concerned that the
Caspian is probable to become an area of environmental disaster due to the lack of proper
control. MARINE HYDROMETEOROLOGY CENTRE IS SET UP IN
AZERBAIJAN The center is devised to maintain prompt exchange of the
relevant information between the littoral states and also with the inter-state ocean
studies commission. In addition, the center will elaborate and carry into life regional
and international marine protection programmes', said Zakir Abbasov. In the more distant future, the research to be launched by
the center will play a major part in forming the National Oceanography Commission. There
are several meteorological stations in use on the Caspian right now, including those
situated in the Oily Rocks oil field and on the Chilov and Khara-Zirya isles. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources established
two river Kura research and study stations recently; one station is located near the
river-mouth in Neftchala, and the other one is in Minghechavir, and studies also lakes and
Kura's tributaries. 'We now can monitor and study the whole of river Kura, its
estuary and the soils', Zakir Abbasov remarked. 1. The NSAP workshop in
Kazakhstan The NSAP Team Leader in Kazakhstan presented an overview
of contents and scope of NSAP, as well as the component PIPP for the public. During the
meeting there were specific recommendations and viewpoints were expressed to be reflected
in the Plan. The main goal of the meeting was to review the preparation
status of draft NSAP and address current problems in region. 2. The PIPP presentations in
Kazakhstan 3. Are Kazakhstani Students
involved into Caspian environmental issues? The important fact to notice is that students are active
members of local ecological NGO’s, who involve in process of increasing the public
awareness on environment issues. It makes us to believe that growing generation is ready
to protect the Caspian. 1. MID-MARCH 2002, AN
INTERNATIONAL CRUISE TO THE CASPIAN will start from Astrakhan. Its primary goal
is stock assessment of sturgeon species in the Caspian Sea. Director of CaspNIRKh, Dr.
Mark Karpyuk briefed on the objectives and details of the expedition, which is organized
upon the initiative of the Russian Federation and completely supported by the other
Caspian littoral states. The concept of the Russian party implies conducting comprehensive
studies of the Caspian sturgeons in 4 stages: spring (March- April), summer (July-August),
autumn (October-November) and, tentatively, winter surveys. During the winter season of
2001-2002, preliminary expedition, which aimed sturgeon stock assessment in the North
Caspian, was carried out after a decade's intermission. Two vessels are involved in data
collection, "Issledovatel Kaspiya" along the coasts of Turkmenistan, I.R. Iran,
and Azerbaijan,and "Sebex" – at Kazakhstan coasts, in the North Caspian and
the western part of the Middle Caspian. Initial data will be processed directly on board
of research vessels, post-cruise processing and analysis of information is to be completed
at the institute. Representatives from all riparian countries take part in
the surveys and data processing. Provisional results will be forwarded to the relevant
organizations of the Caspian countries and upon concluding the Summary Report will be
submitted to government bodies, CITES, and other concerned international agencies. 2. EACH RUSSIAN FISHING VESSEL
AND FISH-PRODUCER including those active at the Caspian is subjected to
registration upon certain number, which will onwards mark their production. This decision
was adopted at the session of State Fisheries Committee RF dedicated to the issues of
quality and safety of fish products. The rule is envisaged under the regulation “On the
Order of Sectoral Registration of Fish-processing Enterprises and Vessels” to be
considered by RF Government in April 2002. This measure is supposed to enhance control on
illegal fishing and fish-processing as well as to regulate monitoring of raw resources and
production courses.? 3. Following decision
taken by Russian Federal Border Service 17-TH DETACHED SUBDIVISION FOR MARITIME
PATROL from Astrakhan was acknowledged the best in Russia. Deputy Director of
FBS, Vice-Admiral Valery Logvinenko stated that such resolution was adopted with regard to
activities of 17-th Subdivision on protection of marine bioresources apart from prevention
of smuggling and illicit migration. Protection of Russian marine borders at the Caspian is
currently of great concern, and according to “Marine Doctrine of Russia” maritime
border service is assigned specific importance in safeguarding economic interests of the
country in this region. 4. NEGOTIATIONS FOR THE COURSE
OF RUSSIAN-IRANIAN COOPERATION ON FISHERIES are the purpose of the visit of
Russian delegation to Islamic Republic of Iran, 14-18 February 2002. The following issues
will be discussed: Governments of RF and I.R.I. signed Agreement on
cooperation in the sphere of fisheries in May 1996. Within the framework of
intergovernmental Agreement joint research is conducted: stock assessment of sturgeons and
sprats, hydrobiological studies, investigation of pollution in the Caspian Sea. At
present, the parties are concerned with drastic degradation of the Caspian bioresources. 1. Monitoring of active zones in the Caspian Sea At the first project stage, the emphasis will be laid on
active zones located near the areas of hydrocarbon search, exploration, and mining. Data
obtained will meet the standard information requirements at national and international
levels used in environment impact assessment for oil and gas mining. Only specialized and
accredited laboratories would be involved in carrying out the analysis. Information
obtained as a result of monitoring will be presented in full to all organizations
(national, non-governmental, commercial) that paid their shares. For further information please contact us: ICOE ICOE In this email is the following information: OneFish You are invited to read the information below and to look
at the OneFish site at: http://www.onefish.org For more information about SIFAR, go to: http://www.sifar.org or write to Joan Baron Varley Scientific-Industrial Center of Research We are currently looking for partners and interested
organizations in order to take part in the Swiss Transborder Program of Grants. For last 5 years SIC "SAKNAPIRDATSVA" has
accomplished several important projects: GRANTS Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia: Some of
the major activities of the Regional Environmental Center for Central Asia (CAREC),
established by the resolution of the governments of the five Central Asian countries with
the assistance of the European Commission, are to provide support to the non-governmental
organizations (NGOs) in the Central Asian region, to promote cooperation between the
governments, local authorities, NGOs and businesses, to develop and deliver training and
grant programs. In accordance with its objectives, the CAREC has developed
its Grant Program 2002 designed to support environmental projects and initiatives of
public organizations and individuals interested in improving the environment. The CAREC is
hopeful that this support will increase the number and the capacity of environmental NGOs
and provide a better opportunity for the community to be actively involved in
decision-making. The Grant Program 2002 includes three types of grants: Transborder grants are to promote cooperation between NGOs
of the CA region in addressing the regional priorities of environmental protection and
sustainable development. An obligatory requirement of this category is joint project
implementation by several NGOs from at least two countries of the region. The grant size
is up to 10,000 US dollars. Special grants are designed to fund the priority environmental
and SD problems in the CA region. Both registered NGOs and initiative groups with project
implementation experience can apply for the program. The grant size is up to 5,000 US
dollars. Themes of competitions for 2002: The complete language of the CAREC's GP Guidelines will be
posted on the web site: http://www.carec.kz.
Detailed information about the call for proposals and the application deadlines will be
provided additionally. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the Grant
Program Manager, Ms. Yelena Yerzakovich. A program of the Funding Exchange: Paul Robeson Fund
supports media activism and grassroots organizing by local, state, national, and
international organizations as well as individual media producers. Funding is offered to
media artists whose works "reflect and comment upon society's ills while emphasizing
the struggles to overcome them." The Robeson Fund primarily supports pre-production and
distribution costs of social issue films and videos, as well as all stages of radio
programs. All genres are considered, so long as the program combines intellectual clarity
with creative use of the medium in promoting social justice; will reach a broad audience
with an organizing component; and can demonstrate how the production will be used for
social change organizing. The maximum grant amount is $15,000. For more information please see: http://www.fex.org/2.3_grantmakingindex.html
russian
Sources: BBC, 26 February 2002
AZERBAIJAN
BAKU, 7 FEBRUARY, AZER-PRESS. The Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources set up a
marine hydrometeorology center at its national hydrometeorology service. The deputy head
of the national service Zakir Abbasov says that the new center is a major data bank, which
holds the survey information covering the Caspian Sea and will be updated constantly.
Source: PPA Azerbaijan
KAZAKHSTAN
In the framework of Caspian Environment Programme (CEP) in 28th of February the
NSAP workshop was held in Atyrau, Kazakhstan, with participation of CEP Deputy
Coordinator, Environmental Economist Mr. H.Ghaffarzadeh, and experts of NSAP Team in
Kazakhstan. The workshop brought together representatives of local state authorities
(Atyrau Oblast Akimat), in particular, the Head of Oblast Department of oil and gas
complex, external economic affairs and investment policy Mr. M.Ahmedzhanov, the Deputy
Director of Environment Protection and Nature Resourse Using Department Ms.K.Naukenova,
the Director of state “Laboratory on Environment Protection” Ms. G.Umbetalieva, the
representatives of private sector – the oil and gas Co’s, such as “TCO”,
“Agip” and “Kazakhoilemba” and the representatives of public organizations and
NGO’s.
Source: PPA Kazakhstan
The “Priority Investment Project Portfolio” (PIPP) - the Worlds Bank’s activity in
CEP, which is aimed to support sustainable development and environmental management in the
Caspian region and consists of such component as the Matched Small Grants Program (MSGP).
In March 1, the PIPP was presented in Atyrau oblast, Kz. The PIPP, as one of effective
results/ efforts/inputs important for the CEP to be integrated into the NSAP. The
presentation brought together a number of people is related to environment as being a part
of social in Kazakhstani coastal region such as governmental officials/representatives,
whose involvement and support is one of main conditions to be marked as high priority
problem, foreign Co’s, operating in this region, scientific institutions, who are
actively addressing environmental problems of the region and local NGO’s. More attention
was paid to the MSGP, by the reason of forthcoming second round and a number of projects
of actual interest. The same presentation has to be held in Aktau, the center of the
second coastal region in Kazakhstan.
Source: PPA Kazakhstan
One more meeting took place in Atyrau, Kazakhstan on March, 1. The Deputy Coordinator,
Environmental Economist, Mr. Hamid Ghaffarzadeh met with 3-4year students of Applied
Ecology Faculty and Ichthyology Faculty/Department of the Atyrau Oil and Gas Institute.
The lecture has an informational context about the CEP activity. The students were
interested what measures do the CEP taken in respect to such important issue as prevention
of water pollution and if the only solution in protection Caspian from Mnemiopsis the
introduction of Beroe is this solution accepted to.
RUSSIA
Source: RIA AVERS, 4 February
Source: RIA AVERS, 13 February
Source: State Committee for Fisheries RF, Press-service, 13 February 2002
PARTNERSHIP OPPORTUNITIES
The Caspian Marine Scientific Research Center, a coordinator and scientific leader of
national and production programs on environment monitoring in the Caspian Sea, announces
launching of the new project - “Monitoring of Active Zones in the Caspian Sea”. The
project’s main objective is to obtain reliable information about state of marine
environment and biological communities in permanent dynamic zones (zones of mixing,
convergence, divergence, upwelling, down-welling, cyclone and anticyclone circulation of
water), which are very important in ecosystem functioning, regulation of pollution level
and formation of biological productivity in the Caspian Sea.
Russia, 414045, Astrakhan,
Shiryaeva st. 14, KaspMNIC
Tel +8512 30 34 70
Fax +8512 30 34 70
Email: kaspmniz@astranet.ru
Sergei Monakhov, Director of KaspMNIC
The International Council for Oil and Environment (ICOE) which is a non-governmental
organisation registered in the UK is currently seeking a partner in Kazakhstan and other
Caspian countries to apply for a joint funding to carry out a project related to
environmental management practice.
For more information please contact:
Liazzat Rabbiosi
490 Gorgie Road
Edinburgh, UK
Tel: 44 (0131) 444 0474
Fax: 44 (0131) 444 0472
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information for the fisheries and aquatic research and development sector, including to
more that 6000 fisheries project records. OneFish has been developed by SIFAR - the
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organization based in the Fisheries Department of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization
(FAO) in Rome. oneFish is free to use, regularly updated, and provides users with the
opportunity to contribute - `publish' - their own information online. Donor organizations
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