Kazakhstan reports deaths of nearly 300 Caspian seals

The number of carcasses of dead seals found on the coast of the Caspian Sea in Kazakhstan has risen to 300, said Daniyar Akimzhanov, director of the Mangystau regional branch of the Republican Association of Fisheries and Aquaculture Qazaq Balyk.

"There are areas that cannot be reached by car. I myself traveled on a motorcycle, toured the territory and counted the carcasses - 37 seals were found in two days. Today, information was received that another 20 carcasses were found on the coast in the Tokmak area of the Karakiyan district. In total, since April 17, about 300 dead seals have been discovered," his words were quoted by the Kazinform agency.

Meanwhile, according to the eco-activist, "the real number of dead seals significantly exceeds 300." He considers changes in the ecosystem to be the main cause of the animals' death. Akimzhanov also noted that information about such incidents is promptly transmitted to authorized bodies and the district akimat (administration) according to a special algorithm, after which work is organized to dispose of the carcasses.

Last fall, dead seals listed in the Red Book of Kazakhstan and seagulls were repeatedly found on the Kazakh coast of the Caspian Sea. In November 2025, the fisheries committee reported to TASS that the cause of death of the seals at that time was probably infectious diseases. Cases of death of these animals were also recorded on the Russian coast of the Caspian Sea.

The Caspian seal is an endemic species that lives only in the waters of the Caspian Sea. Its presence allows us to assess the state of the marine ecosystem as optimal.