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| Caspian Sea |
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Marine life Images of Caspian
Sustainable
Fisheries Threats to Biodiversity
Links |
| The Caspian Sea, the largest lake in the
world, is located in the northern Iran. The Caspian Coast
including the three littoral provinces of Gilân (center Rasht),
Golestân (center Gorgân) and Mâzanderân (center
Sâri), with its thick forests and intensive rice
cultivation presents a striking contrast to the dry inner plateau
of Iran. The picturesque provinces of Golestân,
Mâzanderân and Gilân bound by the Caspian Sea in the
north and, Alborz(Elborz) Range in the south, are divided into a
multitude of valleys whose rivers drain into the sea. |
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| There are several roads connecting Tehran
to different parts of the three provinces, all through
breathtakingly beautiful scenery, across the mountainsor alongside
rivers. One of the roads from Tehran to Câlus on the
Caspian Coast winding north across the rugged Alborz
mountains, passes the popular ski resort at Dizin ,
considered one of the best in the world. The three provinces with
their tropical climate in summer and mild winters, beautiful sandy
beaches and scenic beauty are very popular among Iranians as a
holiday
and weekend resort and numerous holiday and residential complexes and
private
villas dot the landscape. The total area of the Caspian Sea is 435,000 square kilometers or one fourth the size of Iran. Images of the Caspian Sea Maps of the Caspian Sea: 1 2 3 The sea has also been called, the Hyrcanian, Âbaskun, Jorjân, Xorâsân, Tabarestân, Mazanderan, Xvalyn, and Xazar, the latter name is used in Persian, Azeri and Turkish languages. The most populous parts, the southern and western Caspian coasts belonged to Iran until the Arab conquest in the 7th century AD. Culturally and linguistically, they retained their Iranian character in the following centuries, but in the Middle Ages, the population became fused with the incoming waves of Turkic nomadic tribes, and these immigrants accounted for an increasingly large component of the ethnic make-up. Eventually, Azerbaijan became linguistically turkified, while otherwise remaining a part of Iranian world.The area of the Caspian Sea is about 422,000 km2 with 6397 km coastline, of which more than 900 km is along the Iranian side. About 128 large and small rivers flow into the Caspian Sea from Iran, among them the four largest rivers are: Sepidrud, Shalman, Shafarood, and Tonekâ bon. The highest salinity level reaches 12.7 ppt (about 1/3 of the ocean salinity) during summers. The average water temperature in the coastal regions throughout the year ranges from 15.9oC to 17oC. Temperature difference between the coldest area in the north, and the warmest area in the south is 4oC during winter and 16oC during summer. Commercial Species: There are over 120 fish species in the southern part of the Caspian Sea, which are commercially divided in two groups of sturgeons and bony fishes. The bony fishes are also divided into kilka and other species. The main commercial species are as follows: Sturgeons: Beluga (Huso huso), Russian sturgeon (Acipenser guldenstadti), Iranian sturgeon (A. persicus), and Sevruga (A. stellatus). The Iranian Caviar, being a famous and exclusive product worldwide, is produced by these species. Kilkas (small Clupeidae): Clupeonella delicatula, C. engrauliformis, C. grimmi Other bony fishes: Kutum (Rutilus frisii kutum), Mullets (Mugil auratus and M. saliens), Carp (Cuprinus carpio), Bream (Abramis brama), Pike-perch (Lucioperca lucioperca), Roach (Rutilus rutilus) and Salmon (Salmo trutta caspius). Iranian Fisheries (Šilât) has put great emphasis on development of sustainable fisheries. Large sums of money are allocated for preservation of sturgeons.Because of their importance, fishing sturgeons, caviar-producing species, is only the responsibility of Iranian Fisheries.On the other hand, Iranian Fisheries monitors fishing methods to prevent overfishing and damage to fish stocks. For example, beach seining is the only allowed fishing system for licensed cooperatives to catch bony fishes other than kilka. In order to prevent illegal fishing, marine guards control the fishing activities in the Caspian Sea. Iranian Fisheries has established Iranian Fisheries Research and Training Organization to give technical and scientific supports for fisheries related activities. Funds are allocated to researches on identification and conservation of fish stocks. Annually millions of fingerlings are produced by Iranian Fisheries in propagation centers and released in the Caspian Sea to ensure the availability of different fish species in this water body. The fingerlings of following species are produced by Iranian Fisheries: Rutilus frisii kutum, Acipenseridae and Abramis brama. Threats to Biodiversity The Caspian Sea is a closed water body connected to the open sea through the Volga river. This makes it very vulnerable to the effects of industrial pollution. Oil exploration activities, by the Caspian Sea littoral Countries, have increased in the past decade. There are also international plans to transfer oil and gas through underwater pipelines in the Caspian Sea. These activities will certainly have adverse effects on marine and coastal ecosystems of Iran. In the domestic side, development of coastal communities, pouring the sewage in the coastal waters, as well as polluted rivers threaten the coastal ecosystems. Population increase and unemployment in the region also increase illegal fishing. Man-made barriers and obstacles close the migration routes of fishes, and no fishways are anticipated along their migration routes, therefore, many spawning grounds are destroyed. Resource: Clik here Links: Caspian studies The Journal on Politics IRAN AS A MAJOR POWER IN THE CASPIAN SEA BASIN Caspian Sea data, images, reports etc Photos from Caspian coast Caspian Seal Caspian Sea profile Status of Biodiversity in IRAN- Caspian Sea Water Catchment Area of the Caspian Sea Caspian Environment Programme Caspian Forests |
