BACKGROUND: The environmental situation developing in the Caspian basin has been receiving increasing attention, in parallel to the discovery and extraction of large amounts of oil from the Caspian. If one of the reasons for the Caspian sea’s fame is oil, another is the fishing of valuable breeds of sturgeon, especially the Beluga. The Caspian Sea is the preserve of 90% of the world’s sturgeon population. While sturgeon is eaten around the Caspian, the main market product is the black caviar, which is mainly exported, bringing millions of dollars a year to Caspian states. During 2003, the market price of black caviar at world markets doubled. If in spring 2003 the price on the European market was up to $800 per kg, in autumn it had reached $1500, and is still increasing. Black caviar could be termed one of the national symbols of Azerbaijan. From old time, it has the deserved glory as the best, most nutritious delicacy among fish products. The larger and the lighter its grains are, the better and more expensive the caviar. Even at the beginning of the twentieth century, Azerbaijan exported 55 tons of black caviar per year. During Soviet times, the amount was significantly reduced. In 1962, after an agreement between the USSR and Iran, the fishing of sturgeon was completely prohibited. Thus in 1975-1980 Azerbaijan was not able to export caviar. In 1980, only 5,2 tons of caviar were produced. After independence, significant progress took place in the fishing industry. In 1992-93, a significant increase in caviar production took place, reaching 52 tons per year. At this time, special equipment was purchased from Germany to reach world standards of preserving caviar. Three factories were installed in Lenkoran, Neftchala, and in Hovsani settlement (near Baku) and were supplied from Ukraine. From 1993-96, production remained basically stagnant; only in recent years did it spread considerably. Today the situation is on the verge of a disaster: contamination of the environment and poaching is now threatening to lead to the extinction of sturgeon and all activities related to it. The problem is compounded by illegal fishing conducted both by private and state-owned fleets. The problems of the Caspian Sea have been under the observation of CITES for some time, and Azerbaijan joined this international body in 1999. In Fall 2001, a CITES monitoring mission was sent to the Caspian littoral states, and its results were not consoling. Azerbaijan, Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan took the recommendations of environmental experts into account, and starting from 2002 a strict regime on sturgeon fishing and on the production and export of black caviar came into place. This regime did not affect Iran, which has a state monopoly on sturgeon fishing. In any case, it helped little, as poaching and illegal sturgeon trade is considered to be 10-12 times larger than legal activity. As a result, the sturgeon population is on the brink of disappearance. IMPLICATIONS: Over 2000 attempts of poaching in the Caspian Sea have been prevented this year, and over 100 tons of sturgeon fish and 300 kg of black caviar have been confiscated. These steps have proven to be too little too late. If the four post-Soviet Caspian states are found to be neglecting the requirements of the 2001 Paris Convention on the protection of sturgeon, these four Caspian countries may be prohibited to export caviar. At a meeting in Spring 2004, the four states were given three months to submit convincing proof that they are undertaking steps to protect the sturgeon. Environmental specialists protested against this, contending that these countries have already demonstrated their inability or unwillingness to stop poachers and to undertake any meaningful measures to preserve the sturgeon. According to their calculations, from 1970 the sturgeon population in the Caspian Sea has been reduced almost by 90%. Moreover, recent research has shown that only within 2001-2002 it has shrunk by 40%. The chairman of Azerbaijan’s society of animal protection, Azer Karayev, also supports the prohibition of sturgeon trade, arguing it is necessary to introduce a several year long complete moratorium on caviar export and sturgeon trade. However, if sturgeon trade is prohibited, poaching will flourish, and Caspian states have few resources to deal effectively with poaching. Azerbaijani officials claim they have enacted all relevant legislation in accordance with CITES requirements in 1998, whereas Russia, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan have yet to do so. They argue that CITES’ regional approach fails to take into account the different performance of littoral states. The practice of recent years has shown, however, that the use of police measures and even military operations against poachers have not provided the desired effect. On April 22, Kazakhstani officials detained 3 Azerbaijani vessels with 6 tons of surgeon on board, 30 km off the Kazakh coast.

CONCLUSIONS: It is clear that the efforts by littoral Caspian states so far in preventing the overfishing of sturgeon have failed. Azerbaijan has set up a sturgeon-cultivation factory at Neftchala, and taken other steps in law enforcement against poachers. These measures seem unlikely to save the sturgeon population. In part, the problem stems from a lack of appropriate executive attention to the issue. Some have suggested a specific power structure attached to the Cabinet of Ministers to be engaged in environmental and specifically fish protection in the Caspian. If poaching is unlikely to be stopped, the small steps taken toward the cultivation of sturgeon may be the most promising way to halt the decline in sturgeon population. In the meantime, the Caspian states are threatened by a ban on the export of caviar. Whether such a ban would create enough political pressure to achieve results, or whether it will lead to poachers taking total control of the caviar business, remains to be seen.

AUTHOR’S BIO: Gulnara Ismailova is a Baku-based freelance journalist.