Kazakhstan’s Coastal Communities Face Challenges from Receding Caspian Sea

The Caspian Sea, bordered by Kazakhstan, has been experiencing severe shrinking since 1995, threatening biodiversity and local communities. Atyrau residents face numerous issues, including environmental pollution and declining fish populations. Efforts to adapt, including alternative income sources, are ongoing, yet challenges remain significant. The urgent need for protective measures and research into the crisis has been highlighted by officials, but implementation is pending.

The Caspian Sea, bordered by five countries, has been steadily shrinking since 1995, with water levels dropping by over two meters. Scientists warn that the sea’s surface area may decrease by 30 percent by the end of the century, primarily due to climate change and human activities such as dam construction on the Volga River. This decline significantly affects coastal communities and biodiversity as they face dire economic and environmental challenges.

The Atyrau region in Kazakhstan, home to a population of approximately 350,000, is at the forefront of this crisis. Atyrau residents deal with severe air pollution from nearby industrial operations and are also deeply affected by the receding Caspian Sea. Local resident Mustafa reflects on the dismal situation, stating that the current lack of public communication and action is concerning as the sea could vanish in a decade.

Environmental activist Arman Khairullin highlights that the northern basin is shrinking quickly, with the shoreline retreating 30 kilometers near Atyrau, leading to a collapse in biodiversity. The village of Damba, once buoyant with fishing cooperatives, has seen fish populations dwindle, forcing many men to seek employment in oil fields under challenging conditions. Local youth like Meyrambek often abandon fishing due to the scarcity of fish, opting instead for jobs such as driving taxis.

Although Damba’s fishing industry is declining, the population continues to grow as people seek affordable housing away from polluted Atyrau. New homes, characterized by single-story designs capable of withstanding harsh weather, reflect a shift towards residential development even as maritime livelihoods fade away. Accessing the Ural River from Damba now requires dredging, with the river’s mouth often running dry in winter due to decreasing water levels.

The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) warns that five out of six sturgeon species in the Caspian Sea face extinction, with remaining sturgeons now farmed. Berik Akhmetov runs a sturgeon farm near the Ural River, projecting that juvenile sturgeons will eventually be released into the wild, although previous conservation efforts have had minimal success.

In Zhanbay, another fishing village, Mayor Didar Yesmoukhanov notes that the shoreline has moved 20 kilometers away, drastically altering the town’s economy and lifestyle. With fishing declining, camel breeding has emerged as a key alternative income source. Zhanbay resident Nurbol illustrates the necessity to migrate for better opportunities, as fishing jobs diminish.

Coastal desertification is a serious threat, leading to more frequent sandstorms that harm the health of local residents and animals. Ibragim Bozakhaev, a long-time resident, expresses concern about the salty dust affecting livestock and health, echoed by his daughter-in-law, Asel, who struggles with allergies exacerbated by the storms.

The unique Volga Delta ecosystem is also suffering, with reduced water levels causing mud accumulation in canals. The increasing aridity has intensified wildfires in the region, drastically impacting local environments from Kazakhstan to Russia.

Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has called for urgent action regarding the Caspian Sea, indicating the situation is critical. He proposed the establishment of a dedicated research institute to address these challenges, but despite government approval in January 2024, the institute has yet to materialize, raising questions about the future of the Caspian Sea and its communities.

The Caspian Sea’s alarming decline presents a significant environmental and economic threat to the bordering communities, particularly in Kazakhstan’s Atyrau region. The combination of rising temperatures, pollution, and unsustainable development practices poses challenges for local livelihoods. Strategies for adaptation and conservation are essential, yet timely action appears lacking. As the crisis escalates, the need for focused research and collaborative efforts to protect the Caspian Sea and its communities becomes ever more critical.

Original Source: www.equaltimes.org