Caspian sea shrinks, poses economic, environmental threats

The Caspian Sea’s alarming decline has disrupted ferry routes, impacting the economy, and raises environmental concerns.

Batyr Yusupov, a ferry worker on Turkmenistan’s Caspian Sea coast, laments the drastic shrinkage of the sea, preventing ferry routes between Turkmenbashi and Hazar for a year.

The receding waters, observed even by local bathers, extend beyond inconvenience, reaching the core of Turkmenistan’s struggling economy.

Scientists attribute the shrinking sea to natural processes intensified by climate change.

A 2021 study projects a potential 8 to 30 meters drop in water levels by 2100, affecting Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iran, and Russia, besides Turkmenistan.

South of Turkmenbashi, Hazar’s shore has receded around 800 meters, transforming the seaside town into an island.

Ferry worker Yusupov now navigates passengers to Gyzylsuw, revealing the pressing need for a new pier due to receding waters.

Turkmenbashi, a vital port for Central Asia, faces a threat to its maritime infrastructure. Swimmers in the city witness a significant drop in water levels, emphasizing the severity of the situation.

Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov warns that the Caspian Sea’s current level is nearing the minimum values recorded, decreasing by almost two meters in the last 25 years.

The impact is visibly dramatic, with the sea moving hundreds of meters away from its former shores.

Turkmen scientist Nazar Muradov attributes the sea’s changing levels to tectonic movements, seismic phenomena, and climate change. .

Previous falls in the 1930s and 1980s, followed by rises, now coincide with diminishing river flows, low precipitation, and intense evaporation.

Kazakhstan, heavily reliant on the Caspian for its oil and gas industry, witnesses a decline in water levels affecting marine life, including seals.

President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev expresses concern, placing the decline in the seal population under his “personal control” and announcing plans for a Caspian research institute.

As the Caspian Sea faces unprecedented challenges, the economic and environmental implications underscore the urgency for collaborative efforts among the affected nations.