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THE CEP's "AT SEA TRAINING
PROGRAMME"
The Caspian Environmental Programme (CEP) and
thematic center for "Effective Regional Assessment of Contamination Level
(ERACL), established within the CEP and located in Iran, started realization
of the "At Sea Training Programme" (ASTP) on October 9th, 2000. One
of the main focuses of CEP is identification of priority transboundary issues of
the Caspian basin and production of a Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA) of
Caspian. ASTP is the part of this programme. Primary objectives of ASTP are to
conduct a limited regional contamination assessment in order to fill the gaps in
TDA, and training of regional experts in monitoring and assessment of background
pollution of Caspian. ASTP will be implemented in two cruises to be undertaken
simultaneously.
First cruise will take place in the shallow Northern
Caspian and the second in the deeper central and southern part of Caspian Sea.
Three specialized vessels will be involved in the expedition: "Mamed Suleymanov"
(Azerbaijan), "Hydrokhimik" (Russia) and "Researcher of Caspian" (Russia). The
total duration of studies and training will be approximately 22 days. Sampling
will be made both at "hot spots" and at intermediate stations, along coastline
of the Caspian. Implementation of ASTP commenced with a workshop on sampling
preparation and techniques and followed by two day long training cruises in the
Baku Bay area on October 10th and 11th. The expeditions
from Azerbaijan and Russia will begin simultaneously on October 13th
- 14th and end on October 31st.
The At Sea Training Programme will include pilot
work on monitoring of background pollution, definition of contamination levels,
studies of sampling, processing, storage, analysis, methodologies and quality
control, and data management.
Studies will include sampling and identification
of:
-
Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons (TPH), including Polyaromatic
Hydrocarbons (PAH) in sediments, selected biota;
-
Chlorinated Hydrocarbons CNC (DDT and its derivatives, Lindan,
Dieldrin etc.);
-
Micro-metals (TM),
-
Identification of biogenic elements in seawater, including
nitrates, nitrites, phosphates, silicates in sediments.
Studies will also include measurement of water
temperature, electrical conductivity / salinity from sea surface to bottom and
chlorophyll measurements.
The Project Coordination Unit in Baku, Azerbaijan
and ERACL in Tehran, I.R.Iran will review all processed data, while it will be
used later for preparation of TDA.
Specialists on physical oceanography, marine biology
and marine chemistry from Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Iran,
and also scientists - experts from Laboratory for Marine Environment Laboratory
(Monaco), Marine- Hydro physical Institute (Ukraine), Marine Science Institute
(Turkey), Zoological Institute of Kazakhstan Academy of Science and the
Department for Environment of I.R.Iran participate in the expedition.
Funding of ASTP is allocated from the budget of the
Caspian Environmental Programme. However, requests for co-funding have been sent
to offices of Exxon/Mobil, Agip, Elf-Total and BP in Azerbaijan. Presently, CEP
received an official confirmation of a donation from BP for $25,000. OKIOC
(Offshore Kazakhstan Operation Company) - undertakes an expedition in the Kazakh
part of the Caspian and have agreed to make results available to CEP. Agip also
agreed to make results of their recent survey available. Total budget of the
expedition and analysis is $300.000
Please, for further information contact:
Vladimir Vladimirov, 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
© 2005 Caspian Sea Environment | #63, Golestan Alley, Valiasr Avenue, 1966733413, Tehran, I.R. Iran
Tel. No.: (+ 9821) 22059574; 22042285; 22042935 | Fax No.: (+ 9821) 22051850
E-Mail: CEP.PCU@UNDP.ORG
