Caspian Littoral Countries Unite in Ashgabat to Protect Marine Ecosystems

Expert delegations from Azerbaijan, Iran, Kazakhstan, Russia, and Turkmenistan have met in Ashgabat to discuss initiatives aimed at strengthening environmental security and scientific collaboration in the Caspian region.

The meetings focused on two major projects: a draft intergovernmental agreement on marine scientific research in the Caspian Sea, and a draft protocol to combat illegal fishing of aquatic biological resources, which will supplement the 2010 Caspian Security Agreement, The Caspian Post informs via Turkmen media.

Officials from relevant ministries, agencies, and scientific institutions, including Turkmenistan’s Academy of Sciences and the Institute of the Caspian Sea, participated in the discussions.

Delegates noted significant progress in project development and agreed to continue collaborative work. Turkmenistan, currently chairing the Commission on the Conservation and Rational Use of Aquatic Biological Resources of the Caspian Sea (2025-2026), reaffirmed its commitment to the Caspian Environmental Initiative, as highlighted in its Priority Positions for the 80th session of the UN General Assembly.

International experts praised the high level of organization and expressed gratitude to Turkmenistan for hosting the meetings.