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
According to the report, Western nations, including Bulgaria, the European Union, and the United States, purchased approximately $2 billion worth of oil products refined from Russian crude oil in Turkey during the first half of 2024
