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Каспинфо сентябрь 2001 |
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Название: Экологические проблемы Каспия на англ. яз. Главные Пункты: * По результатам научной экспедиции КаспНИИРХ, в ходе которой изучались причины массовой гибели кильки, обнаружено, что содержание нефтяных углеводородов в воде превышало ПДК в среднем в 19 раз, обследование тканей кильки показало наличие хлорорганических соединений и pтути. * Экспедиция по азербайджанскому шельфу Каспия, организованная АзНИИРХ и КЭП, обнаружила, что количество мнемиопсиса в 10-20 превышает количество планктона. * На встрече с общественностью операционная компания Salyan Oil обещала строго придерживаться технологии обезвреживания буровых шламов, безопасной утилизации пластовых вод и ликвидации потерь при разработке месторождения Кюрсенги - Гарабаглы. * Опасность ДДТ, обнаруженного на Каспии и попавшего в море через Куру или с других территорий, заключается в том, что ДДТ по пищевой цепочке может попасть в организм человека. * Причиной гибели тюленей стал не вирус, а убой, загрязнение воды сточными водами, тяжелыми металлами, нефтехимическими и хлорорганическими соединениями, промысел тюленя, сообщил канд.биол.наук Т.Эйбатов. * и др. сообщения. (05.09.2001) Полный Текст Экологические проблемы Каспия на англ. яз. Экологические проблемы Каспия на англ. яз. *** ECOLOGISTS BLAME OIL OPERATIONS FOR SPRAT EXTINCTION The scientific research expedition carried out by the Astrakhan-based Caspian Science and Research Fishery Institute on board of the vessel "Prognosis" has discovered a massive concentration of dead sprats in the northern and southern Caspian (excluding Iran's southern coast). The highest density of the dead fish was registered in an area from Bautino, Kazakhstan, to northern Turkmenistan. The water and fish analysis has shown an increased water pollution of the basin. According to the Caspian Ecological Program's Russian center, the concentration of hydrocarbons in the Caspian exceeds the norm by an average of 19 times, while reaching extremely high benchmarks in the vicinity of Oil Rocks. Pollution with hydrocarbons in the northern Caspian is four times lower. Although Russia has been concealing information concerning the situation in the Terek and Volga rivers, competent sources say there are small oil refineries on the Terek, which dump huge quantities of hydrocarbons into the Caspian. It is therefore, no wonder that the number of dead sprats in that area was particularly high. The Astrakhan scientists are determined to push ahead with the research throughout the Caspian. Azernews, 06.08.2001 Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) 35 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News *** GOV'T UNDERESTIMATE S MNEMIOPSIS THREAT The two-week expedition into the Azerbaijan shelf in the Caspian has ascertained that the spread of the Mnemiopsis has considerably widened, head of the expedition Fikrat Jafarov told a news briefing at the UN Resource Center. According to him, the government does not yet fully realize the seriousness of the situation in the Caspian. In the meantime, the issue requires immediate government interference. So far, only the Caspian Ecological Program is studying the medusa-shaped organism. The expedition has researched coastal zones in Nabran, Siyazan, Sangachal, Lankaran, and Neftchala. The laboratory of the Azerbaijan Scientific Research Institute of Fishing has identified that the number of Mnemiopsis is 10-20 times above that of the plankton that used to dwell here. Mr. Jafarov said the expedition was carried out by the laboratory with the support from CEP. Azernews, 22.08.2001 Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) 35 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News *** DISCUSSION ON EIA THRESHOLD The "Salyan Oil" operating company held public hearings in Salyan city focusing on the EIA project for the fulfilled development of "Kursangi-Garabagli" fields. Addressing the hearings, a representative of Dames&Moore, the company responsible for drafting the EIA, Mr. Jim Rights, said that the project envisions six key directions, which include drilling, decommissioning and liquidation of wells, land re-cultivation, purification of reservoir waters, etc. According to him, the project will be completed before November 30 and is expected to reflect proposals from broad public and parties to the contract. Azernews, 22.08.2001 Caucasus Environmental NGO Network (CENN) 35 Electronic Bulletin: Caucasus Environmental News *** CITES TIMES THE SALES OF CAVIAR AND IMPOSES A MORATORIUM ON STURGEON FISHING The international organization CITES imposed a bank on sturgeon fishing in the Caspian Sea effective till the end of 2001, and this was done during the meeting of the Executive Committee in Paris on 19-22 June, says one of the three representatives of Azerbaijan who attended that meeting. At the same time, CITES permitted the Caspian countries-members of the Commission for Marine Bio-resources of the Caspian Sea to sell the already stocked sturgeon caviar until 20 July this year. Azerbaijan had 5 tons of the caviar by that time, and it was sold to a major US company. It should be remembered that CITES (Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of Wild Fauna and Flora) considered it necessary to declare the reduction of sturgeon fishing and black caviar exporting quotes in 2001 for the four Caspian member-countries (except for Iran) by 80 percent. This was done at the beginning of this year. An informed source says that Azerbaijan adopted obligations to the Standing committee of CITES in regard to this measure. Representatives of CITES will be provided with multi-visas and will control the prevention of poaching and illegal trade operations. It must be said that the biological resources of the Caspian Sea are among the main global resources subjected to extermination. The poaching levels in the 'hungry' years reached its zenith. According to official sources, the poaching levels in the whole Caspian Sea are eleven times as much as permitting fishing norms. The sturgeon and the related species are very much favored by gourmands, it seems. This 'love' brings the fish big problems with survival, though, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to maintain the balance between fishing and re-production of these fish species. There are three sturgeon factories in Azerbaijan. The biggest of them, once called Ust-Kura and now Neftchala, has the production capacity of 10.7 mn sturgeon fry per year. However, as the level of the Caspian Sea rose in the few past years, the breeding ponds of this factory were flooded. The second factory, the Experimental Kura factory, is also located in Neftchala. And the third, with the capacity of 3 mn fry, is in Ali-Bayramli. These three factories put out 20 mn tons of the sturgeon fry in 1999, and only 18 mn tons in 2000. According to Zulfugar Guliyev, director of AzerBalig's Caspian Fishery Scientific Research Institute, re-production is falling because there are not enough female fish, and no adequate conditions in which the fry should be kept. In the end, the fry is released into the sea when they only weigh 1.5 grams, which is half of the envisaged normal weight. The fish protection organs and fisheries of the republic need refurbishment and re-equipment. They need money as well, and AzerBalig often applies for it to international financial structures and the petroleum companies operating in the Caspian Sea. It should be said that there are five fisheries in Iran, and it is planned to build two more. Interestingly enough, sturgeon fishing is fully under state control in Iran, and 95 per cent of what is fished is exported. As for Azerbaijan, it is planned to build an ultra-modern fish breeding factory in Neftchala to produce 15 mn fry a year. The new facility will be built under the relevant project of the World Bank. Speaking about the official fishing quotes regarding other Caspian marine fauna species, it must be mentioned that only Russia fully uses its sprat fishing quote of 87 thousand tons. The other littoral countries do it partially and by not more than fifty per cent. Azerbaijan, for instance, does not get more than 15-20 thousand tons of the sprat every year. To sum up, we should like to say that a draft agreement about the Caspian biological resources is drafted within the frameworks of the Caspian Environmental Program. It envisages establishment of the commission for the Caspian biological resources, which have a status different to that of the existing analogue, and will be representative of all the five coastal countries. The new commission's resolutions will, as we have been able to find out, bear legal force with all the Caspian states. NGO 'FOR OUR SAKE - LIFE, ALTERNATIVE, PRIORITY' *** DDT FOUND IN THE BOTTOM SEDIMENT IN THE CASPIAN SEA 12 July The presentation of the findings of the sediment analysis carried out in the Caspian Sea was organized during the working meeting at CEP. There was also the information about large concentrations of DDT in the mouth of river Kura (the data on the other countries are not received as yet). It is prohibited to use DDT and has not been in use in Azerbaijan since the early 80s, say officials of the Ministry of Agriculture. DDT, according to the World Health Organization and some scientific researches, is one of the most toxic matters that suppresses living organisms' re-productive capacity. The fish caviar subjected to its effect cannot bring forth the fish, bird eggs' shell begins so fragile that cracks under the birds. The humans have abortions, pathologies in infants, et cetera. In accordance with international standards, the half-life of hazardous compounds should be within thirty days, that is to say, they should become not toxic in that period. DDT's half-life is longer and it could get into underground and surface waters from the arable fields, and settle in the sea-bed sediment, says Fikret Jafarov, fish re-production laboratory head at Azeri Fishery Scientific Research Institute. DDT accumulation studies were carried out in the Kizil-Agaj preserve in the late 70s and the high concentrations of DDT having negative effects on bird and animal populations were determined. Later studies discovered the hazardous matter's diminishment, but that was a natural process because DDT would pass into living organisms eventually. It followed from the conversation with Mr. Jafarov that the sediment in the mouth of river Kura was a recent formation, and that is the most dangerous part of it. The sediment is accumulating at a considerable speed of about 1 centimeter per year. Judging by the data, the sampling was made at the depth of two centimeters, which indicates the 'youth' of the sediments. That is to say, DDT got there not longer than 2-3 years ago, and reached the sea either via Kura or from the rivers flowing down from other territories. Judging by the sediment's proximity to Absheron peninsula, DDT came from Kura, though. Any herbicide from the Kura valley reaches the Caspian Sea sooner or later because the drainage and collector system of that region goes to the sea direct. From the bottom sediment DDT gets into the bottom-dwelling organisms, and from them into the fish, and there is a probability that it can reach humans as well. This would also worsen the quality of the black caviar and cause problems with sturgeon re-production, says Mr. Jafarov. In his opinion, it is necessary to ring the alarm bell. Fikret Jafarov mentioned the version indicating that pesticides brought from Iran are used in the Kura valley, especially in Massalli and Salyan zones. However, a detailed research into all the currently-used pesticides needs being undertaken to clarify the matter. We met a competent specialist at the Ministry of Agriculture who has an explanation of his own. He told us that 75-80 thousand tons of DDT produced by Sumgait's `KhimProm` were used in cotton plantations only during 1975-1977. Now, only 7-8 thousand tons of pesticides are used in the aggregate. 10-15 kilograms of the dust were used for one hectare of land, whereas 1-5 grams of pesticides made abroad are used for one hectare now. The state chemical compounds registration committee is selecting perishable and low-toxic pesticides now. Not satisfied with the annotations and certificates provided by overseas producers, it checks the pesticides at local laboratories and no DDT could be in them, it was emphasized. Probably, we are told, DDT found in the sea-bed sediment is a blast from the past, as it were. The pesticides called 'the dust' could have got into underground and other water-flows, travel by Kura and reach the Caspian Sea and get accumulated as a sediment. Not asserting that Iranian pesticides containing DDT could not be imported illegally, our source ruled out that the left-over amounts of the dust could ever be used. 8 thousand tons of the powder made of DDT and other substances were taken to Gobustan, the locality that is situated 50 km away from Baku, put in impermeable containers and buried on the top of a mountain there. The tip is fenced in. 112 bunkers with hazardous compounds were liquidated in this manner all in all. A commission representative of eleven organizations, inclusively of Selkhozkhim, that time's chief ecology service, the sanitary and epidemic station, the Ministry of Agriculture, the Absheron region committee of the (Communist) party and others, was set up to handle and supervise that operation. Relevant state agencies should take this information into account and pin-point the source feeding Kura with DDT. Radical steps should be taken to prevent the poison input from existing any longer, says Fikret Jafarov. Perhaps, the state departments of all the coastal states should get down to ecological security of the Caspian Sea, which has been subject to much greater pressure over the past few year. Consequences beyond control and amendment may occur otherwise. NGO 'FOR OUR SAKE - LIFE, ALTERNATIVE, PRIORITY' *** PRELIMINARY STUDY OF MNEMIOPSIS' SPREAD IN AZERI WATERS YIELDS SAD FINDINGS 23 July A special expedition is prepared for upon the initiative of AzerBalig's fisheries scientific research institute. The research team went to sea on 23 July to examine the distribution of the biological mass formed by the Mnemiopsis in the Caspian waters as well as the effect that it is having on the food basis for fish. The institute's director Zulfugar Guliyev said in an exclusive conversation that the studies of the coastal zones in Nabran, Siyazan and Sangachal indicate that the Mnemiopsis bio-mass is increased there. The expedition is moving towards Lenkoran and Neftchala now. It should be remembered that the appearance of the jelly-fish organism called Mnemiopsis leidyi in the Caspian Sea in 2000 caused the progressive reduction of the food basis for the 'local' inhabitants. The predator is most likely to have got into the Caspian Sea with the vessels going via the Volga-Don canal; it is multiplying in explosions and it eats everything. Scientists say if its distribution is not controlled, Mnemiopsis can cause the sturgeon fish and the Caspian seals to perish altogether. The main costs related to the expedition are undertaken by Caspian Fishery Scientific Research Institute, and the equipment comes as a grant from the Caspian Environmental Program (CEP). CEP has prepared the Mnemiopsis program that includes offshore studies by the specialists of а Caspian Fishery Scientific Research Institute (Astrakhan) with the aid of overseas experts, but does not envisage the work per national sector, says the research team's leader, laboratory head at Caspian Fishery Scientific Research Institute Mr. Jafarov. The Mnemiopsis study program prepared by the Azeri fish institute was not only approved by CEP but also recommended for use to the other littoral states via the branches of CEP located in them. The team will go along the Azeri coastal line from Yalama on the border with Russia, and by the estuary of river Samur, to Astara. The expedition is to last for a fortnight. NGO 'FOR OUR SAKE - LIFE, ALTERNATIVE, PRIORITY' *** CEP CONCERNED ABOUT INTENSIFYING WATER POLLUTION IN THE CASPIAN The pressure put on the Caspian has been sharply intensified over a number of past years owing to a number of factors, it was mentioned during the third meeting for trans-border analysis planning in the Caspian Sea in Baku (9-13 July). The meeting was organized to generalize the national positions and identify those fields of activity where the countries could join forces to solve the Caspian Sea's problems. The biggest problems, it was told during the meeting, were the pollution with various heavy metals and agrarian chemicals, the more frequent fish, seal and other marine fauna perishing cases and the degradation of the coastal zone. Experts found considerable pollution in river Terek, and this is deemed the consequence of the operation of the mini-refineries processing crude oil. According to the message from Kazakhstan, a break-down in an exploratory well caused an oil spill on the eastern coast of the sea in April. The well had been sealed before the incident. Neither experts no mass media were admitted to the scene, but it was reported some time later that 200 liters of crude oil spilled out. However, it appears that even Kazakh experts do not think this figure is correct. Water sampling taken in the Caspian by representatives of the Caspian Environmental Program and the analysis findings coming from the laboratory in Monaco witnessed considerable concentration of hydrocarbons, chrome, nickel, copper and mercury. The presence of DDT in the sea-bed sediment is the most alarming fact, for it can result in grave health damage, including the damage to the public re-productive health. One of the meeting's participants remarked that the Russian side still had not produced any information about the condition of rivers Terek and Volga, which account for a substantial portion of pollutants. Checking the watered oil wells in Kazakhstan, the agrochemical methods employed in Iran, degradation of the coastal zones, the status of the emergency response situation of the region, protection of the biological diversity in the Caspian Sea, introduction of non-waste technologies, forecasts for regulation of technogenetic impacts, the absence of proper interaction between the littoral states and of any common format for minimizing the negative impacts on the Caspian Sea environment, and other subjects were tabled and discussed during the meeting. The data will be used in elaboration of the national Caspian activity plans of the five littoral states, as well as in preparation of the regional strategic program of activities, thus marking the main outcome of the efforts made by the Caspian Environmental Program. Separate materials will be provided on a range of problems. NGO 'FOR OUR SAKE - LIFE, ALTERNATIVE, PRIORITY' *** MASSIVE SPRAT DEATHS CAUSE CONCERN The information in the Echo newspaper about as many as 250 thousand dead sprats found in the Caspian is wrong, says Zulfugar Guliyev, director of the Azeri Azeri Fishery Scientific Research Institute. 17-20 thousand fish died in reality. Caspian Fishery Scientific Research Institute (Astrakhan) organized an expedition during the scientific research work on RS-300 'Prognosis' in April-May, and the anchovy-type sprats prevailed among the dead fish concentrations found. The highest concentrations of the dead fish were found on the span from Bautino in Kazakhstan to the northern part of Turkmenistan - approximately 1000 specimens per hectare. The dead sprat was found in the Middle and South Caspian, not mentioning the southern coasts of Iran that were not surveyed. Experts underlined the strong degree of exhaustion of the dead fish they found. Water and fish sampling witnessed the raised level of sea water's pollution: '...the petroleum hydrocarbon content is above the highest accepted limits everywhere, by 19 times on the average, and reached the highest of 81 highest accepted limits in the area of the Oily Rocks. The pollution with petroleum hydrocarbons is four times lower in the northern regions of the Caspian,' it is said in the report. Also, the raised content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, in particular of naphthalene and 2-methyl-naftalin, was observed. Antracene was found in concentrations 2.6 times above the limit, and flying phenols were found in concentrations 2.9 times as much as the limit. Heavy metals, like lead, zinc, nickel, copper and cobalt, were well above the highest accepted levels as well. The maximum concentration of copper - 10.3 times the highest accepted level - was discovered to the south-west from Adamtash peninsula (square 765). The toxicological examination of the sprat tissue samples indicated the presence in it of chloride organic compounds and of mercury. Zinc and lead were 3 times as the limit, and cadmium was double the limit. Not only the zoo plankton is reduced dramatically in the sea, but also the habitual food of the sprat has vanished. The crustacean populations are reduced by fifty times, and so the sprat began to live on balanus, the mollusk that it does not digest well and the shell of which withstands the effects of food ferments. An expert in Dagestan witnessed the death of a large number of sprats and the strong pollution in the river-mouth while being in the region of river Terek, BEN learned from a reliable source. Russian specialists themselves did not deny the information about the lamentable environmental situation on river Terek. The river is polluted with oil products from the private miniature oil refineries that are located in the river's basin. Following the dead sprat reports from Astrakhan (the fish was found in the Middle and South Caspian), specialists of the Baligartirma unit of the state-run concern Azerbalig undertook research raids to the coastal waters of Azerbaijan. A reliable source says that no dead sprats were found, and that, besides, the sprats found were well-fed and there were many food organisms in their stomachs. However, Azeri fishermen underlined the strong reduction of the coastal populations compared with a normal situation. According to the latest data obtained on 1 August, the sprats in the Azeri coastal zone are fattened and no dead fish were found. At any rate, the basic food for such an important and valuable species as the sturgeon is remains under threat. It should be mentioned that a research vessel began a raid of the Caspian Sea in the format of CEP on 30 July to survey the condition of food bases for the valuable fish, and to form a picture of the distribution and migration of the sprat. The expedition team includes representatives of the five coastal countries. The team is going to use modern hydro-acoustic apparatus granted by the Government of Norway. That equipment, which is worth $100,000, will be installed on the vessel in Baku. NGO 'FOR OUR SAKE - LIFE, ALTERNATIVE, PRIORITY' |