News >> Press Release
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
© 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
