279 Dead Caspian Seals

Once again, hundreds of dead seals have been found in Kazakhstan. The animals were lying on the sea coast, near Cape Urdek and the village of Bautino. According to Konarbay Bazarbayev, head of Tupkaragan Department at Regional Administration for Fisheries Protection, the first stranding of dead seals was observed by employees from Zhaiyk-Caspian Interregional Basin Inspection on the Tyub-Karagan Peninsula on April 29, 2025. ‘To date, 279 dead animals have been found. Last week, 117 seals were found. However, last weekend we registered another 59 individuals. Inspection employees, together with representatives of local executive bodies, continue collecting dead seals to take them to a specialised landfill,’ K. Barabayev commented on the results of monitoring the endangered species.

A few animals had remains of fishing nets, which may indicate one of the causes for this mass mortality – fishing, probably illegal. The main reason for the mass death of Caspian seals is still unknown. ‘Most seals were stranded in a state of advanced decomposition, which makes it difficult or impossible to collect samples for laboratory research. Unfortunately, there are cases when fishing gear is found on the bodies of animals. 13 such individuals were found during the last monitoring. The causes of mass mortality are identified by specialists from the Institute of Ecology and Hydrobiology. However, despite many years of researches, they have not yet been able to come to a specific conclusion,’ said Konarbay Bazarbayev.

In the top photo: Collecting of dead Caspian seals, Tyub-Karagan Peninsula, Kazakhstan, spring 2025. Photo credited by Fisheries Committee, Ministry of Agriculture of Kazakhstan.
Source: Kazinform International News Agency.