A note on the silent decline of the Caspian environment

Mar Pollut Bull. 2024 Aug:205:116551. doi: 10.1016/j.marpolbul.2024.116551. Epub 2024 Jun 14.

Abstract

The Caspian Sea, the world's largest enclosed water body, experiences significant transformations in its physico-chemical properties and a decline in bioresources due to extensive anthropogenic activities. These activities include the discharge of diverse pollutants and bio-physical alterations such as over-fishing, hunting, and physical alterations to rivers. While acute manifestations such as a fall in the Caspian water levels and wetland desiccation are more overt, the pervasive impact of human activities contributes to a likely irreversible decline in environmental quality that we aim to spotlight in this discussion in order to facilitate its restoration.

Keywords: Bioresources; Environmental degradation; Human intervention; Hypoxia; Sea level.

MeSH terms

  • Conservation of Natural Resources
  • Environmental Monitoring*
  • Oceans and Seas
  • Wetlands