The government has signed a decree on the removal of 156 Caspian seals from the islands of Durneva, Tyuleni and Remontnye Shalygi (Aktoty) in the Caspian Sea in the Mangistau and Atyrau regions.
According to the press service of the Ministry of Agriculture, after tagging and the completion of scientific research, the seals will be released back into their natural habitat.
"Furthermore, removal has been permitted for breeding in specially created conditions for scientific purposes, with subsequent release into the habitat of rare and endangered species: the Aral sturgeon from the Ili and Karatal rivers, Lake Balkhash and the Kapshagay Reservoir within the Almaty region; the Aral barbel from the Syr Darya River within the Kyzylorda region; the taimen from the Irtysh River and its tributaries within the East Kazakhstan Region and the Abai Region; and the nelma from the Irtysh River within the Pavlodar region."
It has been reported that scientific organisations are currently obtaining the relevant permits, after which they will begin research into the study and conservation of rare and endangered species of fish and other aquatic animals.
It will be recalled that earlier it was reported that dead seals are periodically found on the shores of the Caspian Sea. The first reports this year of dead animals appeared on 29 March. At that time, officers of the Mangistau region fisheries inspection found 62 carcasses of dead seals during a monitoring exercise in the Tupkaragan district.
On 25 April, in the Tupkaragan district of the Mangistau region, officers of the fisheries inspection directorate found 12 seal carcasses.
Later, the fisheries inspection directorate of the Mangistau region reported that between 29 March and 25 April 2024, 182 carcasses of dead seals had been found on the shore of the Caspian Sea.