Blogger Documents Seal Deaths on Caspian Coast Near Fort-Shevchenko, Authorities Respond

This past weekend, Blogger Azamat Sarsenbayev published a new video showing dozens of seals scattered along a one-kilometer stretch of coastline near Fort-Shevchenko. According to him, over 50 dead seals were found in that area, and just two days earlier, the fisheries protection service had disposed of more than 160 carcasses, Orda.kz reports.

In response to a request from Orda.kz, the Mangystau Regional Fisheries Inspection confirmed that since April, a total of 264 dead seals have been discovered along the Caspian shoreline.

Strong onshore winds brought in the carcasses. The animals died at different times and in different places. In April, 88 were found during monitoring. On May 21, 117 were recorded, and another 59 were found yesterday, said Andrei Rutskiy, chief specialist at the regional fisheries inspection.

He added that while some of the animals were caught in poachers’ nets, determining the cause of death for most is no longer possible due to decomposition caused by warm weather.

In most cases, this is the work of poachers. But unless the animal is found tangled in a net, we can’t prove it. Everyone knows what’s going on, but there’s no way to prove it. And the poachers are still going out to sea. Neither we nor the border guards can stop them, Rutskiy explained.

All findings have been passed to law enforcement. Orda.kz has also submitted additional inquiries to the relevant authorities.

Original posts: post 1, post 2