Iran shows growing concern about declining sturgeon stock

 

The iranian government urges the president of the Caspian Sea states to sign the Convention for the Legal Regime of the Caspian Sea, which would settle the territorial rights of each country and most of all alleviate environmental concerns for the world’s largest land-locked body of water.

Some fisherman see themselfs already as the last generation of its kind in the Caspian Region. Because of heavy pollution (sewage, oil drilling, etc.), poaching and over-fishing, the sturgeon population in that region is in free fall since the last years. Some even say, that within the next 10yrs. this ancient caviar production will come to an end. 

Iran is the only mentionable state in that region that undergoes heavy efforts in order to re-stock this endangered species without a hidden agenda (as for example Russia and Kazakhstan do with their caviar mafia and corrupt system). 

Lets hope that Teheran finds a way to convince them all and to round up the table! 

Original article on allheadlinenews.com

Dying Caspian Sea: Pumping-out the marine fauna

 

Sturgeons major surviving problem besides poaching, overfishing and the dams and hydroelectric power plants that block their natural trails when going into the river systems is another black gold: OIL. The hunt for new oil reserves seems to vindicate every kind of collateral damage done against nature these days. After all its about the prospect of changing the balance of power in the world. And that’s enough reason for many to continue their efforts in turning the Caspian Sea into a cesspool!

It is frustrating to observe the sheer incompetence of the international community in preventing this disaster – or worse: supporting it. Since many years the births of humans around the coastline of the Caspian Sea are showing abnormalisms, cancer rate is skyrocketing and the water is extremely polluted.

Here some Youtube videos to share:

- Extracting troubles

- Russians seek influence over Caspian oil

- A fresh view at the recent Georgian war

 

In this light, the 5 year long ban regarding sturgeon fishing, which starts next year, seems to be a tinny attempt in finding a future for this ancient fish.

And one might think twice about consuming wild caviar from the Caspian Sea after knowing this. A much safer bet is premium farmed caviar!

The 5 year ban and a glimpse at the future of Caspian caviar

 

It is generally known that during the months of April until June 2008 the Caspian Sea states reacted on the growing pressure of international watchdogs and authorities to ban fishing of wild sturgeons in the region. Now, after the latest CITES ban (thanks to Caviar Emptor!) in 2006 all states but Iran agreed verbally to implement a 5 year ban starting in 2009. (I really hope that this verbal agreement was done with spit and a hand shake – at least)

 

This leads to the conclusion that within the next years it will be tricky to find premium quality of wild caviar coming from the Caspian Sea. Exported Caspian caviar should therefor vanish some months after the latest possible catch season – this very autumn. Meaning that after April 2009 (after the usually 6 month shelf life expired) should be no legally traded caviar around which originates from Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan or Turkmenistan. Only Iranian caviar should be visible on the connoisseurs radar. It is already a fact that prices for illegal wild caviar will go sky high! Once again.

But as the Caspian Sea states are known not only for their amazing natural ressources and landscapes it is very possible that some misguided ‘authorities’ will try to benefit from this ‘rocket science’ and sell some false labeled caviar through the usual dark channels of the underworld. The profits would be just too yummy.

So, there’s the choice we have: For the optimists on one hand it can be considered as a “real step into the right direction”, as Julia Roberson of the sturgeon advocacy group Caviar Emptor puts it. For the pesimists on the other hand this step could lead right into the pockets of greedy hipocriticals. As a swiss it is not up to me to judge but to stay neutral – and to observe. Maybe just this much: I hope for the first and fear the latter.

 

But even if this ban comes with the right motivation and goal (= to prevent the fish from extinction) it does not do real good. The time span is just to short. Sturgeons need about 12-15 years until they spawn.  In addition the females only lay their eggs every 2-4 years. And this means that in 2014 – when the ban will be lifted – there will be achieved virtually nothing. That is why some scientists suggest a much longer ban. It would take a ban lasting for four decades to be effective.

 

Why waiting, if the true alternative is already here?

 

Related article:

Telegraph

Caspian Sea is facing a dramatic natural catastrophe

 

The Caspian is an ecosystem under stress. Even in the eye of constant efforts in promoting environmental safeguards to protect the largest inland sea in the world and its resources, interests in the gas and oil sector keeps destroying the high diversity of sensitive marine habitats.

 

Petrochemical and refining complexes are the major sources of pollution. Discharges and spills from oil and gas drilling in the Sea have serious impacts on the environment and the human health. The untreated waste from the Volga River – into which half the population of Russia and most of its heavy industry drains its sewage – empties into the Caspian Sea. The Ural, Kura and Emba Rivers also empty contaminations into the Caspian from industrial pollution, municipal wastes and agricultural runoff. The air pollution from Tehran due to the old cars that lack catalytic converters falls out in the Caspian when the wind blows the smog north from Iran, contributing to pollution in the Caspian problem.

 

In Kazakhstan the cases of blood disease, tuberculosis and other diseases are four times more common in the Caspian area than the rest of the country’s average. Water, which has been contaminated by oil products in Kazakhstan, is still used for drinking water. This contamination is cited as a reason for intestinal infections in Kazakhstan’s coastal areas. Swimming in most areas of the Sea is hazardous. The higher rate of cancer is recorded in the whole area. A dramatic rise in stillbirths and miscarriages are being witnessed.

 

The chemicals and pesticides are threats as well to the flora and fauna. Contamination by DDT used in agriculture could be a factor contributing to the disappearance of the Caspian sturgeon because it could be a cause of infertility. The Caspian sturgeon and Caspian seal have been dying in large numbers. The heavy pollution, combined with illegal overfishing, public indifference, weak environmental laws and regulation and a territorial dissension from the 5 caspian states, hinders any attempt to permit a future for the home of 75% of the world’s sturgeon population and over 400 species that are only to be found in the Caspian Sea.

 

 

The challenge of protecting the Caspian’s environment will remain a highly difficult task.

 

 

Crossed fingers will not be enough…

 

 

Caspian Caviar, and its last gasps

It is commonly known, that the Caspian Sea is facing a dramatic natural catastrophe.

Even in the eye of constant efforts in promoting environmental safeguards to protect the largest inland sea in the world and its resources, interests in the gas and oil sector keeps destroying the sensitive marine habitats of the sturgeon. The heavy pollution, combined with illegal overfishing, public indifference and territorial dissension from the 5 caspian states, hinders any attempt to permit a future for the home of 90% of the world’s sturgeon population.

In addition, there is the problem with small local fishermen, who are driving the prices down by selling a poor quality of caviar. Complains, that point out the unprofessional state of these fishermen, arise into the public awareness. They were often caught in fishing dead sturgeon, storing sturgeons without cooling and mixing different sorts of caviar into one can.

In other words: Buying Caspian Caviar means to acquire a product with the highest market price, which is polluted, endangered, illegal, unethical and which could even have adverse health effects for the consumer.

Wild Caviar tarnishes the image and high reputation of caviar.

Wild caviar gets bad PR

The following is an extract of an article found under braincoad.com regarding the worsening bad shape of Caspian sturgeons and consequently the many bad surprises for human health:

External parasites on sturgeons include Pseudotracheliastes stellatus, Nitzschia sturionis, Diclybothrium armatum, Cystoopsis acipenseris and Diplostomum spathecum with the highest prevalence in Huso huso at 60% and the lowest in Acipenser persicus at 13.9% (A. Hajumoradloo in 5th International Symposium on Sturgeon, Iranian Fisheries Research Organization, 9-13 May 2005, Ramsar). Ghaemi et al. (2006) found strains of mycobacteria in Iranian sturgeons and Mycobacterium marinum can cause fish tank granuloma, a disease in humans, although none was found in fishermen.

Many sturgeons in former Soviet waters of the Caspian Sea have developed fatal diseases associated with chemicals such as phenols, waste fluids and air from gas production facilities associated with the petrochemical industry. Both the sturgeon and their caviar are now inedible. Iranian sturgeons are believed to be less affected but since sturgeons migrate they are susceptible to extra-territorial pollution (Golub, 1992).  Read More >>

Wild caviar makes me sick!

It is known under experts, that caviar coming from the Caspian Sea might contain DDT and/or PCP, which might be dangerous for human health.  And in some sturgeon stomachs they even found paper and cellophane packages! Here’s an extract of the article (follow link for hole article):

Due to a lack of food and pollution, only 4% of the beluga caught in the 2002 trawl surveys of Northern Caspian feeding grounds had full stomachs; in general, stomach contents consisted of algae, paper and cellophane packages. A recent study of organochlorine (PCB’s, DDT, etc.) contaminant levels in Caspian Sea sturgeons found high levels in all species, with levels in beluga the highest. Effects of this contamination on beluga reproduction and human consumption have yet to be assessed.
Read More >>

Caspian Sea is facing a dramatic natural catastrophe

The Caspian is an ecosystem under stress. Even in the eye of constant efforts in promoting environmental safeguards to protect the largest inland sea in the world and its resources, interests in the gas and oil sector keeps destroying the high diversity of sensitive marine habitats.

Petrochemical and refining complexes are the major sources of pollution. Discharges and spills from oil and gas drilling in the Sea have serious impacts on the environment and the human health. The untreated waste from the Volga River – into which half the population of Russia and most of its heavy industry drains its sewage – empties into the Caspian Sea. The Ural, Kura and Emba Rivers also empty contaminations into the Caspian from industrial pollution, municipal wastes and agricultural runoff. The air pollution from Tehran due to the old cars that lack catalytic converters falls out in the Caspian when the wind blows the smog north from Iran, contributing to pollution in the Caspian problem.

In Kazakhstan the cases of blood disease, tuberculosis and other diseases are four times more common in the Caspian area than the rest of the country’s average. Water, which has been contaminated by oil products in Kazakhstan, is still used for drinking water. This contamination is cited as a reason for intestinal infections in Kazakhstan’s coastal areas. Swimming in most areas of the Sea is hazardous. The higher rate of cancer is recorded in the whole area. A dramatic rise in stillbirths and miscarriages are being witnessed.

The chemicals and pesticides are threats as well to the flora and fauna. Contamination by DDT used in agriculture could be a factor contributing to the disappearance of the Caspian sturgeon because it could be a cause of infertility. The Caspian sturgeon and Caspian seal have been dying in large numbers. The heavy pollution, combined with illegal overfishing, public indifference, weak environmental laws and regulation and a territorial dissension from the 5 caspian states, hinders any attempt to permit a future for the home of 75% of the world’s sturgeon population and over 400 species that are only to be found in the Caspian Sea.

The challenge of protecting the Caspian’s environment will remain a highly difficult task.

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