Publication Name

The marks of human activity

Many opportunities are offered by the Caspian Sea

region. It is important that they are handled with

care in order to maintain the richness in bio- and

mineral resources over a long time. The natural

wealth of the region round the Caspian Sea in min-

eral resources also involves high metal concentra-

tions. Industrial activities, in particular mining, are

raising the metal concentration in sediments to

levels exceeding permissible limits.

Increased activity on oil-drilling platforms and in

transport obviously increases the risk of accidents

at sea. Exploitation of the offshore reserves in the

northern part of the sea, where the water is very

shallow, involves specific risks. Depending on the

season (ice forms in some places in winter) access,

in the event of an accident, may be very difficult.

Oil slicks glittering on the surface of the sea and thou-

sands of hectares of soil penetrated by oil leaking from

abandoned wells are just part of the pollution that peo-

ple living around the Caspian Sea must endure. In addi-

tion there are various industries, particularly chemicals

and mining, large-scale irrigated farming and untreated

household waste. Combined with the effects of the oil,

all these forms of pollution have a serious impact on

the well-being of humans and wildlife.

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Figure: Oil forecast in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and

Turkmenistan.

Numbers should however be treated

with caution, estimates changing frequently as new

exploration work is carried out. The most recent

forecasts for Azerbaijan have been more moderate,

whereas new exploitation work will soon be starting

in Kazakhstan.