Caspian Sea - The Times Of Central Asia

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NASA Discovers ‘Ghost’ Island in the Caspian Sea

NASA satellites have detected a fascinating phenomenon in the Caspian Sea: the temporary formation of an island following the eruption of the Kumani mud volcano. According to data from NASA's Earth Observatory, the island emerged in early 2023 but had almost completely disappeared by the end of 2024, earning it the nickname “ghost island.” The island was first observed using Landsat 8 and 9 satellite imagery in January 2023, shortly after the volcano erupted. It measured up to 400 meters wide and was accompanied by a visible sedimentary plume extending from its surface. However, by late 2024, the island had diminished significantly, leaving only faint traces of its existence. The Kumani mud volcano, located 25 kilometers off the eastern coast of Azerbaijan, is no stranger to such occurrences. Since its first recorded eruption in 1861, the volcano has periodically created temporary islands, which vanish after short periods. Mud volcanoes like Kumani are common in regions with active tectonic activity. They eject high-pressure mixtures of water, gas, and sediment, forming landmasses that are often unstable and short-lived. The Caspian region is notable for its high concentration of mud volcanoes, with more than 300 such formations in Azerbaijan and on the Caspian Sea shelf. Many of these volcanoes emit combustible gases, particularly methane, which has drawn the interest of scientists and geologists. The connection between these mud volcanoes and the hydrocarbon systems of the South Caspian Basin makes them critical subjects for research. The emergence and disappearance of this “ghost” island in the Caspian Sea highlight how much remains to be understood about mud volcanoes. These transient landforms demonstrate the dynamic forces of nature and underscore the need for further exploration of geological processes occurring on the seafloor.

Industry Fishery Caspian Region Caspian Sea Economy growth

Kazakhstan Takes Bold Steps to Revive Caspian Sea Fishing Industry

For the first time in over 30 years, commercial fishing has resumed in Kazakhstan’s section of the Caspian Sea. On December 20, Deputy Minister of Agriculture Amangaliy Berdalin attended the ceremonial departure of fishing boats targeting sprat from the port of Sarzha in the village of Kuryk, located in the Mangistau region. Commercial fishing in the Mangistau region was active before 1991 but declined after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Its revival is part of Kazakhstan’s broader efforts to develop a sustainable fishing industry and bolster food security. One of the first steps in this revival was the purchase of two fishing vessels by Aktau Balyk Company LLP. The company aims to catch approximately 10,000 tons of Caspian sprat annually, providing this resource to the domestic market. Plans are already underway to expand operations. Next year, Aktau Balyk intends to acquire four additional vessels, increasing its fleet and boosting its annual catch volume to 30,000 tons. The government’s commitment to revitalizing the fishing industry is underscored by the Program for the Development of Fisheries until 2030. This initiative prioritizes fish farming as a cornerstone of the sector's growth. According to the program: Kazakhstan aims to produce 270,000 tons of fish annually through fish farming by 2030. The government seeks to increase domestic fish consumption to 134,000 tons annually. Fish imports are targeted to drop from 45,000 tons to 25,000 tons annually. This strategic push signals Kazakhstan’s determination to establish a thriving fishing industry to meet domestic demand and position the country as a competitive player in the regional seafood market.

mystery Caspian Sea investigation

Mysterious Caspian Sea Shipwreck Discovered Near Aktau

Fishermen on the Kazakhstani port of Aktau, on the Caspian Sea, have reported the discovery of a mysterious shipwreck approximately 1.5 kilometers from Cape Melovoy. The outline of the vessel, estimated to be about 70 meters long and 15 meters wide, became visible due to the shallowing of the water in the area. The location of the wreck has been identified at 43°0′0″ north latitude and 51°0′0″ east longitude. Satellite imagery available through Google Maps corroborates the fishermen’s accounts. A representative of a logistics company that monitors vessel traffic suggested that the wreck appears to be relatively recent. While the discovery has generated significant local interest, no official investigation or underwater survey has been conducted yet. Bahramzhan Novruzov, an instructor at the Typhoon diving center, confirmed plans to explore the site in May 2025. The origin, condition, and potential significance of the wreck remain unclear. Further analysis will be necessary to determine whether the vessel holds historical, commercial, or other value. This discovery adds to a series of recent findings in the Caspian Sea, where falling water levels have exposed numerous wrecks. In Tupkaragan Bay, for example, the remnants of dozens of vessels have surfaced, revealing what some have called a “ship graveyard.” Additionally, divers from the Russian Geographical Society have been investigating the Caspian seabed for vessels dating back to the era of Peter the Great, seeking to pinpoint their exact locations. Underwater surveys planned for next year are expected to shed light on the mystery surrounding the Aktau wreck and contribute to the growing body of knowledge about the maritime history of the Caspian Sea.

United Nations Environmental Awareness Ecology Climate Change Caspian Region Caspian Sea COP29

Caspian Sea Water Decline Requires Urgent Action, Says UNEP Chief

By the end of this century, the water levels of the Caspian Sea could drop by up to 18 meters, a decline that would devastate ecosystems and species, threaten livelihoods, and jeopardize food security and regional stability. Inger Andersen, Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Executive Director of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), highlighted this concern during the event, “Caspian Sea Water Decline in Light of Climate Change” at COP29 in Baku, Azerbaijan, on November 18. According to Andersen, the Caspian Sea, the largest enclosed body of water on Earth, “is under siege from the triple planetary crisis: the crisis of climate change, the crisis of nature, land and biodiversity loss, and the crisis of pollution and waste.” Andersen warned that without urgent action, this environmental and human crisis may result in as many as five million people being displaced from the Caspian basin by the middle of the century. [caption id="attachment_25708" align="aligncenter" width="722"] Inger Andersun; image: UNEP[/caption] The UNEP chief mentioned the impacts of the Caspian crisis: declining fisheries, salinization threatening agriculture, and the critically endangered Caspian seal — a species found nowhere else on Earth — facing extinction. Andersen emphasized the critical importance of the Tehran Convention — “the cornerstone for regional cooperation on the Caspian Sea.” The Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (Tehran Convention) was signed by the five Caspian littoral states — Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan — in 2003 and entered into force in August 2006 after being ratified by all five governments. [caption id="attachment_25706" align="aligncenter" width="2560"] Aktau, Kazakhstan; image: TCA, Ola Fiedorczuk[/caption] The Tehran Convention “provides a platform to align our efforts, to unite science and policy, and to prioritize sustainable development across this unique region. As the interim Secretariat of the Tehran Convention, UNEP is proud to support these vital efforts and remains firm in its commitment to providing technical expertise, fostering collaboration, and supporting innovative financing mechanisms to address this urgent challenge,” said Andersen, emphasizing that robust monitoring and predictive models are essential to understanding and managing the drivers of Caspian water level changes. “Science must inform every decision we take, whether on climate adaptation, biodiversity protection or pollution control,” Andersen stated, calling for regional cooperation to be strengthened. “The challenges the Caspian faces transcend borders. Solutions must do the same. Through trans-boundary collaboration, we can craft integrated solutions that safeguard ecosystems, support livelihoods, and promote equitable economic growth,” she stated. The Times of Central Asia earlier reported that the abundant floodwater in April-May 2024 raised Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea water level by over a meter. On July 1, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Water Resources and Irrigation announced that the water level in the northeastern part of the Caspian Sea had risen by 119 cm since the beginning of 2024. The COP29 summit has been widely criticized for its "theatrics," "slow progress," and handing out the "red carpet" treatment to fossil fuel bosses.

Trans-Caspian International Transport Route multimodal transportation International transport Caspian Sea TITR Infrastructure Development

Kazakhstan’s Caspian Sea Ports Increase Cargo Transportation

Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has announced that from January to October 2024, the country’s Caspian Sea ports transported 6.2 million tons of cargo, reflecting a 3% increase compared to the same period last year. Transit cargo shipments saw even stronger growth, rising by 18%. Truck transshipment via the Kuryk port’s ferry complex increased by 22%, while container transportation through the Aktau port surged by 84%, with approximately 27,000 containers moved along the East-West transit route. During the same period, the Sarzha terminal at Kuryk port handled 55,000 tons of cargo, including non-ferrous metals, fertilizers, and barley, destined for Turkey and Iran. In October, a new grain terminal with an annual capacity of 1 million tons was inaugurated at the Kuryk port. Efforts to enhance the port’s capacity continue. The Times of Central Asia previously reported that Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Transport has undertaken dredging operations at the Kuryk port to ensure sufficient depth for ship access, bolstering the capacity of the Trans-Caspian International Transport Route (TITR). The dredging project will support further expansion of Kuryk’s terminal capacity, currently set at 6 million tons annually—4 million tons through its railway terminal and 2 million tons via its automobile terminal.

Ecology Caspian Sea Mass Die-Out

Scientists Investigate Deaths of 1,000 Caspian Sea Seals

More than 1,000 seal carcasses have washed ashore along a stretch of the Caspian Sea coast in the last month, according to the Kazakh government. The mass death of seals in the area has previously been reported, and similar events have occurred over the years. But new data from the Ministry of Agriculture reveals the large scale of the latest losses as scientists study tissue samples taken from the carcasses to find out why the seals died. “The Fisheries Committee suggests that natural phenomena, including natural gas emissions caused by underwater earthquakes, might be the reason behind the deaths,” the ministry said on Thursday. “Final conclusions regarding the causes of the seal deaths will be determined after laboratory tests are completed, which, according to scientific organizations, will take 3–4 months.” Fisheries officials discovered 1,034 seal carcasses along the coast in the Tupkaragan district of the Mangystau region of western Kazakhstan between Oct. 24 and Nov. 13, according to the ministry. So far, tests of tissue samples are negative for a number of infectious diseases. Kazakh officials attributed the deaths of nearly 200 seals in late 2022 to pneumonia, while noting that environmental pollution in the Caspian Sea had made their immunity systems more vulnerable to infectious diseases. Concerns about the impact of oil extraction, industrial waste and other environmental damage on the sea’s ecoystem are increasing. Scientists have recorded mass deaths of seals in the Caspian Sea for more than two decades. In 2000, the deaths of about 10,000 seals was attributed to chronic toxicosis.