Kazakhstan Probes Cause of Mass Seal Deaths on Caspian Sea Coast

"The Fisheries Committee suggests that natural phenomena, such as the release of natural gases due to underwater earthquakes, could be the cause of the seal deaths," the ministry said.

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Kazakhstan's Agriculture Ministry and scientific organizations are investigating the cause of recent mass seal deaths along the Caspian Sea coast, with one theory suggesting that natural gas emissions from underwater earthquakes may be to blame.

"The Fisheries Committee suggests that natural phenomena, such as the release of natural gases due to underwater earthquakes, could be the cause of the seal deaths. Final conclusions regarding the cause will be drawn after laboratory tests are completed, which, according to scientific organizations, will take 3-4 months," the ministry said, The Caspian Post reports, citing TASS.

According to the agency, from October 24 to November 13, 2024, specialists from the Zhaiyk-Caspian Interregional Basin Fisheries Inspectorate found 1,034 seal carcasses washed up on the Caspian Sea coast in the Tupkaragan district of the Mangystau Region. The inspection, conducted in cooperation with representatives from the Institute of Hydrobiology and Ecology, the Center for the Study and Rehabilitation of Seals, and the Scientific and Production Center of Microbiology and Virology, included partial tissue sampling from the bodies for further research.

Employees of the Veterinary Control and Supervision Committee also collected pathological samples, which are currently being tested for infectious diseases at the National Veterinary Reference Center in Astana. As of November 13, all samples tested negative for pasteurellosis, avian influenza, necrotizing fasciitis, salmonellosis, and listeriosis. Monitoring of the Caspian Sea coast is ongoing.

According to the ministry, cases of seals dying en masse in the Caspian Sea have been recorded since the early 2000s. Notably, in 2000, around 10,000 deceased seals were discovered, with chronic toxicosis identified as the cause of death.