In the southern regions of Russia, bordering the vast expanse of the Caspian Sea, a critical environmental crisis is unfolding. The Caspian seal, a species unique to this region, is edging dangerously close to extinction.
Decades of industrial pollution, habitat degradation, and the impacts of climate change have pushed the species to the brink, raising alarm among conservationists and scientists.
The decline of the Caspian seal population has been both rapid and severe. Since the early 20th century, the species has lost nearly 80% of its numbers.
Currently, there are fewer than 70,000 seals left, and experts warn that if more effective preservation measures are not implemented soon, the species could be lost within two decades.
In response to this alarming trend, Russia has taken steps to recognize the Caspian seal as a species “under threat of extinction,” a designation that would allow for stricter conservation efforts.
However, while this proposal is a step in the right direction, critics argue that progress is moving too slowly to counter the many threats facing the species.
Caspian Seal on the Brink: A Legacy of Decline
Listed as endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) since 2008, the Caspian seal has been recognized as a rare species in Russia’s Red Book of endangered species.
But it was not until May 2024 that Russia proposed upgrading the seal’s status to “under threat of extinction,” signaling the government’s acknowledgement of the species’ precarious state.
“We see that the number of this rare species is concretely heading toward extinction,” said Irina Makanova, head of the Russian Ministry of Natural Resources’ protected areas department, during a meeting in the State Duma.
According to Makanova, official data reflects a grim reality, with the seal population plummeting due to both natural and human-induced pressures.
For years, environmental activists have expressed frustration at the slow pace of conservation efforts.
The lack of a comprehensive conservation plan, including a network of protected areas for the seals, has left the species vulnerable to various threats. While the new designation may allow for such measures, the delay in action is troubling to those working in the field.
“Granting the Caspian seal a new protected status is commendable, but it is followed by yet more talks about counts and continued observations rather than direct actions to protect the species,” said Arseny Philippov, president of the Nativus International Association for Biodiversity Conservation, to The Moscow Times. “What we need now is tangible action, not more bureaucracy.”
Historical Decline and Persistent Threats
The historical exploitation of the Caspian seal population has been significant. For centuries, seals were hunted for their fur and blubber, a practice that continued well into the 20th century.
This unsustainable hunting drove the species to near extinction by the early 1900s, and although hunting has since been banned, the damage was already done.
Today, commercial hunting of Caspian seals is illegal in all five Caspian nations—Russia, Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Turkmenistan, and Iran—with Russia outlawing the practice in 2019. However, hunting is not the only threat these seals face.
“While there is no longer officially organized commercial hunting, there is a very high bycatch of seals in illegal fishing gear set for sturgeon poaching, amounting to many thousands of animals each year,” an international marine mammal conservation expert told The Moscow Times.
The expert, who requested anonymity, added that bycatch in poaching activities remains the largest human-induced threat to the seal population today.
Poaching remains a significant problem, with thousands of seals dying each year after being trapped in illegal fishing nets. Additionally, industrial activities near the Caspian Sea have polluted the waters, further endangering the seals’ habitat. T
oxic substances like petroleum products, pesticides, and heavy metals such as mercury, lead, and arsenic have accumulated in the Caspian Sea, leading to what scientists call “cumulative toxicosis” in the seals.
Shipping activities, habitat loss, the depletion of food sources due to overfishing, and the introduction of invasive species further exacerbate the species’ vulnerability. These stressors collectively threaten the survival of the Caspian seal in an ecosystem already strained by human activity.
Climate Change Adds a New Layer of Risk
Climate change presents yet another threat to the survival of the Caspian seal. Warming temperatures are altering the seal’s habitat in significant ways, most notably through the early melting or reduction of winter ice cover.
The seals rely on winter ice for breeding, and with less ice available, their reproductive success is compromised.
Furthermore, climate models predict that by 2100, sea levels in the Caspian Sea will drop by 8 to 14 meters due to increased evaporation. A decline of this magnitude would dramatically reduce the seal’s habitat, particularly in the shallow northern region where the ice sheet forms during winter months.
“Even the lower value [of sea level decline] would mean the North Caspian—about one-third of the total current area of the Caspian Sea—will disappear,” said the international expert. “This means the area where the winter ice sheet currently forms, which is the breeding habitat for Caspian seals, will be gone.”
The combined effects of habitat loss, declining sea levels, and shrinking food sources pose a monumental challenge to the long-term survival of the species. As the Caspian Sea warms and industrial pollution remains unchecked, the seals face an uphill battle for survival.
Steps Toward Recovery: A Long Road Ahead
Despite the overwhelming challenges, conservation experts emphasize that it is not too late to save the Caspian seal.
Examples from other marine mammal species offer hope. The Northern Elephant seal, which nearly went extinct in the late 19th century, has since rebounded to a population of hundreds of thousands.
Similarly, populations of gray and harbor seals in Europe have made a remarkable recovery following bans on hunting and improvements in environmental conditions.
Caspian seals, having survived in the Caspian Sea for over a million years, have demonstrated resilience in the face of past climate shifts.
However, the rapid pace of modern climate change, coupled with industrial pressures, makes their current situation dire.
Philippov and other conservationists stress that the key to the seals’ survival lies in immediate, coordinated action. Designating critical habitats as protected areas would provide the species with much-needed respite from human activities, allowing them to adapt to longer-term environmental changes.
“The creation of a nature reserve can provide a chance to save the species. This is precisely what we, together with scientists and activists from Dagestan, demand in our petition,” Philippov said.
Human Solutions for a Sealed Fate
Beyond the creation of protected areas, experts argue that addressing the socio-economic factors contributing to seal bycatch is essential. Many communities around the Caspian Sea rely on illegal fishing to sustain their livelihoods, which inadvertently results in seal deaths.
Developing alternative income sources for these communities could reduce the need for poaching and illegal fishing, thus lowering bycatch. International cooperation is also necessary to bolster national conservation efforts, ensuring that all Caspian countries contribute to the species’ recovery.
At the individual level, people can make a difference by supporting sustainable fishing practices and refraining from consuming threatened species like sturgeon, whose illegal fishing is a major cause of seal bycatch.
A Critical Juncture for Caspian Seals
The fate of the Caspian seal hangs in the balance. Scientists and conservationists agree that with decisive action, there is still time to save this unique species. But the window for action is rapidly closing. Without immediate, coordinated efforts to protect their habitat and reduce human pressures, the Caspian seal could disappear within a matter of decades.
“My personal view is that we absolutely have the opportunity to conserve Caspian seals,” the international expert said. “But the decision to do that is in the hands of people now. They have to actively decide to take action and do it, or stand by and watch as they slip away.”
The time for action is now, as the Caspian Sea and its rare inhabitants face unprecedented challenges. The future of the Caspian seal depends on the choices made today.
This article was created using automation technology and was thoroughly edited and fact-checked by one of our editorial staff members