The need for increased conservation efforts to save the Caspian Seal was internationally recognised during the UN Environment’s Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS) in 2017. Under the convention the seals were assessed to be in danger of extinction and there was an urgent need for international agreements on their conservation and management. The Center believes this obliges the parties of the Convention to undertake maximum efforts to preserve and restore the Caspian Sael population, protect its habitat, remove obstacles to migration, and reduce the impact of adverse factors. In 2017, more than 100 countries classified the Caspian Seal as an endangered species.

Governments around the Caspian Sea are all signatories of the Tehran Convention (Republic of Azerbaijan, Islamic Republic of Iran, Republic of Kazakhstan, Russian Federation and Turkmenistan). The convention creates general requirements for the environmental protection of the Caspian region.

Buffer zones should be created for the Caspian Seals in which traffic, especially from passing ships, will be eliminated, and new oil and gas facilities are blocked from opening. We also recommend that the Caspian Seal is included in the Republic of Kazakhstan Red Book of endangered species to ensure it receives the protection it deserves.

To find out more about the conservation efforts of the CSRRC, please visit ‘About Us’.