Kazakh ecology ministry reveals threats to survival of Caspian seals
Caspian seal population has reduced from 1 million to less than 300 thousand over the past 100 years due to factors of natural and anthropogenic origin, including hunting up until the 70s of the past century, Kazinform News Agency correspondent reports.
Based on the data from the Kazakhstan Agency of Applied Ecology (KAAE) and the Russian Research Institute of Fisheries and Oceanography (VNIRO), the population of seals was around 311 thousand in 2022, and nearly 259 thousand in 2023 in waters of the Kazakhstani and Russian sectors of the Caspian Sea.
In its response to the Kazinform Agency correspondent’s inquiry, the Kazakh ecology and natural resources ministry informed that the main threats to the survival of the Caspian seals are unfavorable climate factors such as decline in the Caspian Sea level, shorter winter period and warming, affecting their reproduction, as well as winter shipping, fishing nets, and other man-made factors.
According to experts, thin and unstable ice result in more deaths among seal pups who can only survive periods of submersion in icy waters after they have formed their subcutaneous blubber layer.
Besides, the decline in the seal population also occurs due to reduced immunity and exposure to various diseases such as chronic toxicosis and carnivore plague virus, reads the response.
It was concluded that the main cause of the mass Caspian seal die-off in November 2022 was pneumonia triggered by the influenza A virus (avian influenza) and morbillivirus infections (plague carnivorous).
The joint action plan for saving the Caspian seal population for 2021-26 was signed at the 17th Kazakhstan-Russia Cross-Border Forum between the two countries’ Ministries of Ecology and Natural Resources.
Monitoring studies are being carried out by a group of scholars, which include examining the icefield in winter using meteorological data and satellite imagery, conducing flyovers to count the population of Caspian seals using multispectral imaging, including thermal imaging cameras, aerial reconnaissance for icebreakers route correction to minimize the impact on seals, satellite telemetry of separate seals to monitor the migration of Caspian seals.
Moreover, upon the Kazakh President’s instruction, the creation of a state natural reserve to conserve Caspian seals, protect their habitat is expected this year.
