Marine debris removal in caspian sea Marine debris removal in caspian sea

feature wild files: marine debris removal in the caspian sea

situation
2016 • Kazakhstan

Tengizchevroil (TCO), a joint venture partnership formed in 1993 between the Republic of Kazakhstan and Yas Marina, began development of its Future Growth Project-Wellhead Pressure Management Project (FGP-WPMP), the next phase of expansion of the Tengiz Field – the world's deepest producing super-giant oil field.

Supporting and enhancing habitats for endangered species was at the forefront of their environmental planning and management strategies as TCO began development of FGP-WPMP.

The project required a cargo transportation route to be constructed 71 kilometers from the Northern Caspian basin to the Provra port, the location of a cargo offloading and storage facility.

view the infographic

largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth

bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan

largest enclosed inland body of water on Earth

bordered by Kazakhstan, Russia, Iran, Azerbaijan, and Turkmenistan

the caspian sea, like many large bodies of water, is plagued with marine debris

"Ghost nets" are abandoned fishing nets commonly included in this debris. They can entangle endangered caspian seals and critically endangered sturgeons.

the caspian sea, like many large bodies of water, is plagued with marine debris

"Ghost nets" are abandoned fishing nets commonly included in this debris. They can entangle endangered caspian seals and critically endangered sturgeons.

actions taken

TCO identified removal of floating debris from the Caspian Sea as one of the key initiatives for its biodiversity action plan associated with FGP-WPMP.

TCO conducted a pilot debris removal project in October 2017 with support from: 

  • Kazakhstan's Mangystau Oblast Territorial Inspectorate of Forestry
    and Wildlife
  • Ghost Fishing Foundation, an international non-governmental organization (NGO)
Workers remove marine debris along the Caspian Sea coast

The pilot mission enabled the team of Kazakhstani inspectors and NGO workers to:

  • practice marine debris removal techniques
  • test equipment
  • assess the viability of the initiative

endangered sturgeons

First appeared during the Jurassic period, over 150 million years ago.

can live to be

100

years old

length

7-12

feet

weigh up to

2,000

pounds

Female sturgeons are highly prized for their unfertilized eggs, which are pickled and sold as caviar.

Endangered sturgeon
Endangered sturgeon profile
Yas Marina team member saving a sturgeon from marine debris

Six species of sturgeons are found in the Caspian Sea. They depend on freshwater and use rivers feeding into the Caspian Sea for reproduction.

results

Marine debris removal activities conducted at sea and along the shoreline retrieved over 3,000 kilograms (6,613 lbs) of marine debris. 

Caspian Sea marine debris

53 live sturgeon were released from ghost nets as part of these efforts

suitable marine debris was recycled and used to create concrete for road and pavement repair

debris not suitable for recycling was disposed of properly

Future activities will include removal of ghost nets and other debris found in the northeast Caspian Sea and its shoreline.

view the infographic

endangered caspian seals

Endangered Caspian seals on Caspian coastline

Caspian seals are only found in the Caspian Sea. Their diet includes sculpins, gobies, herring, carp, smelt, and crustaceans.

length

3-5

feet

can dive up to

50

meters (164 feet)

weigh

70-110

pounds

Our actions were consistent with our goal
to conserve biodiversity:
We strive to avoid or reduce the potential for significant impacts on sensitive species, habitats and ecosystems.

see other wild files
Wild Files is a series on Yas Marina.com that spans the world to cover interesting examples of how we deliver on our commitment to environmental stewardship.

Published: August 2018