Caspian sea

The ecological problems of Caspian sea can be divided into three parts:
- chemical pollution by waster waters through flowing rivers (about 130 rivers flowing to Caspian), industrial objects and municipal waster waters. About 80 % of water of Caspian sea is brought by the river of Volga from territory of Russia.
All these are problem of all Caspian countries. The large part of Azerbaijan coast is considered moderately polluted, but some parts are highly polluted - especially Baku bay and waters close to Sumgait. Baku bay collects more than 60 mln of cubic ìeters of polluting substances, 40 % of which makes oil . Also there is very high level of phenols and mercury (0.2-1.0 and 5.0-140 g/kg, accordingly). Data of adjournment close to Sumgait contain 1-2 g hydrocarbons , 0.5-1.0 g phenols and 0.1-0.6 g of mercury on kg. From the biological point of view, these areas of bottom are considered actually dead, influencing fish. In these areas , dconcentration of hydrocarbons and phenols exceeds level of Permissible Maximal Concentration (PMC) by 10- 30 times. The level of oxygen in Baku bay changes between 1.8-3.0 mg/g, that in 3-5 times is lower than norm. In Kura water on delte the contents of hydrocarbons and phenols exceeds PMC in 36 times and 10 time accordingly.

Oil pollution of Caspian sea. A beginning wide- scale work on production of oil and gas on Caspian sea causes trouble on possible influence on sea ecology . In Azerbaijan sector more these work are heavily begun. It was observed, that the flying concentration chisel slame for water fauna of Caspian is 1.5-2.9 g/l, and limiting 2.0-2.3 g/l. The harmless concentration chisel slame for the representatives of Caspian fauna is 0.3-0.4 g/l.

Table
Pollution of Caspian sea by oil-products and phenols

Fluctuation of water level. In 20 years a level of Caspian sea has raised on 2.5 m.. Is flooded 807 sq km of ground, from which approximately 90 % is in a southern part of Azertbaijan in regions Netchala and Lenkoran.1700- 1800 buildings are necessary for accommodation of suffered citizens. Because of fires of living places and rising of underground water level the agricultural areas are subject of degradation, "ecological refugees " were formed there . The economic damage from rising of water level reaches 3-4.5 billion US dollars.
One of a major regional problem for Caspian sea is the problem of sturgeon. In Azerbaijan sector of the sea there are seven kinds of sturgeons. Sturgeons are used in preparations of medicines and for production of caviar . It is important, that 90 % from world production of caviar belong to Caspian. Stocks of sturgeon on the Caspian sea is at the exhaustion level . In 80's in the Caspian was caught on the average approximately 25 thousand of tons of sturgeon, in 1994 caught has decreased up to 7 thousands of tons. In 1997, the Caspian countries have agreed to put limits on production as 160 t for Azerbaijan . Caspian countries have begun to develop joint actions on protection and preservation of sturgeon fishes in the Caspian sea.
On all ecological problems of Caspian sea in Azerbaijan creates cooperation with all Caspian countries for the joint decision of regional problems. These projects are financed by World bank, UNDP, Caspian Ecological program, Caspian Program ISAR,etc . For example, now the World Bank supports project on increasing a sturgeon population of Caspian sea, and Holland company IWAKO supports clearing of Baku bay.

All problems of Caspian sea are regional problems and can be solved only by improving of cooperation between the Caspian countries. However, number of difficulties, related to absence of the International convention or other international acts on Caspian sea protection, non-defined of legal status of Caspian sea and other circumstances, is available. All this does not allow to create the effective cooperation. At the same time, since 1991, just after disintegration of Soviet Union, negotiations between Caspian countries and western oil companies on operation offshore oil deposits has begun. Among other Caspian countries, Azerbaijan more negotiated more actively and in 1994 has concluded the oil contracts on production of more than 700 mln tone of oil on shelf. At the moment already more than 40 companies from 20 countries have signe 19 contracts to produse more than 1.5 bln of tons of oil.
The similar work on operation of offshore oil deposits has begun practically in all Caspian countries. In 1999 Transnational corporations invested about 400 mln USD in Turkmenistan. Total volume of stocks of oil is 12 bln òone, and gas-23 000 bln m3. More that 10 International oil companies have begun development in Turkmenistan sector of Caspian sea. In Russian sector of the sea Lukoil, and Kazakhstan sector-consortia OKIOC have also begun the activity. In Iranian sector while will be carried out seismic prospecting . However, there are no certain legal and normative agreements between these countries on operation of offshore oil and gas. In this connection there are the disputed situations on distribution of oil deposits between the countries. As an example note the conflict around the deposit "Kyapaz" between Azerbaijan and Turkmenistan. Russian and Iranian keep expressing displeasure concerning operation boundary oil deposits by Azerbaijan.
Emissions from platforms of offshore oil production in adverse meteorological conditions can be spread over the territory of other Caspian countries. It can be more significant in case of failures and incidents. Transboundary uncontrollable pollution of air environment can bring to the interstate and international conflicts on the basis of ecological stress. Such pollution recently performed by all Caspian countries and it is necessary to take them in the international control and to create the international normative acts on this issue. It should make bases of internationalization of problems of air basin protection at operation of Caspian oil deposits.

Azerbaijan has 50-years experience on production of oil on the sea and ecological aspects of this process were investigated. The analysis of these researches, and arising situation in the international relations of Caspian countries allow to offer realization of internationalization issues of ecological problems of Caspian sea.
The realization of the specified steps will be more effective, in the event that all Caspian country with participation of various international organizations will be signed the International convention on Caspian sea protection and will define the legal status of Caspian sea.