Baku: Caspian Day was established in 2006 by the leaders of Azerbaijan, Iran, Russia, Turkmenistan, and Kazakhstan. These five littoral nations signed the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea, pledging to safeguard the world’s largest inland body of water.
According to Azeri-Press News Agency, this date serves as more than a mere marker on the calendar; it is a pressing reminder of the critical threats facing the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea. As a vital resource sustaining millions of people and countless species, the Caspian represents both an ecological and cultural cornerstone. Continued environmental degradation risks the irreversible loss of a unique ecosystem and an integral element of regional heritage.
In recent decades, the Caspian’s water levels have been falling at an alarming rate, reaching their lowest recorded point in 2025. Scientists warn of a further 4-meter drop within the next decade, driven by a dangerous combination of climate change, rising temperatures, reduced river inflows, and unsustainable human activity.
Pollution from industrial waste, untreated sewage, oil spills, and plastic has poisoned the water. The Volga River, supplying 80% of the Caspian’s freshwater, is increasingly diverted for agriculture, hydropower, and industrial use before reaching the sea. Meanwhile, urban expansion and industrial development along the coast have destroyed natural habitats, pushing species to the brink of extinction.
According to the Red Book of the Republic of Azerbaijan, Caspian sturgeon, Caspian seal, Caspian trout, Ship sturgeon, and Persian sturgeon (Caucasus/Kura sturgeon) are either Critically Endangered or Endangered Caspian Sea species.
The Caspian seal (Pusa caspica) is a rare marine mammal found only in the Caspian Sea. In the early 20th century, the seal population numbered around 1 million; today, that number has dropped to just 70,000-100,000. Major causes of this decline include industrial pollution, poaching, entanglement in fishing nets, loss of ice habitat, and viral infections. If this trend continues, seals may disappear completely.
At the forefront of the battle to protect the Caspian seal is the Save Caspian Seals (SCS) initiative, founded by Fateh Arif Kerimli. SCS is dedicated to reversing the decline of Pusa caspica through awareness, education, research, and youth action. The organization’s mission is clear: to protect this endangered species, restore the balance of the Caspian ecosystem, and inspire a generation to stand for environmental justice.
Current SCS projects include a mini-documentary revealing the seal’s plight, social media campaigns, ecological workshops, and awareness stands at public events. Through these efforts, SCS is building a movement-uniting scientists, activists, policymakers, and everyday citizens in a shared mission to ensure the Caspian seal not only survives but thrives.
Protecting seals is not just a biological duty-it’s an ethical and human responsibility. At ‘Save Caspian Seals,’ everyone is called to join this cause. If young people, scientists, NGOs, governments, and the private sector work together, the voice of the Caspian-the voice of the seals-will not be silenced.
The volunteers of Save Caspian Seals propose several solutions for the protection of Caspian seals: establishing protected seal zones, strengthening environmental legislation, creating seal rehabilitation centers and sanctuaries, and promoting awareness and eco-tourism.
To preserve the Caspian Sea is to protect our underwater heritage for future generations. The steps taken today will shape the nature of tomorrow.