Inhabitants of the platforms

NAME: Caspian seal SCIENTIFIC NAME: Pusa caspica ENDANGERING STATUS: ENDANGERED FAMILY: Phocidae

DESCRIPTION: Adults are about 126–129 cm in length. Males are longer than females at an early age, but females experience more rapid growth until they reach ten years of age. Males can grow gradually until they reach an age of about 30 or 40 years. Adults weigh around 86 kg; males are generally larger and bulkier. Due to increased industrial production in the area, pollution has had a detrimental effect on the Caspian seal population. From 1998 to 2000, the concentration of zinc and iron increased dramatically in the tissue of dead, diseased seals. This suggests these elements are causative agents in compromising the Caspian seal‘s immune system. A century ago, their population was estimated at 1.5 million seals; in 2005, 104,000 remained, with an ongoing decline of 3–4% per year.

DISTRIBUTION: Caspian seals are endemic animals of the Caspian sea. They migrate to different parts of the Caspian sea during various seasonal changes in the year. From May to September, most Caspian seals settle in the southern part of the Caspian Sea where cooler waters can be found. Whereas in autumn or winter, they migrate northwards to the ice sheets to breed.

SPACE CLAIMS: Seals tend to live in environments where they are safe from predators and far removed from human activities. They enjoy rocky areas of land that are very close to sea shores. They are sluggish on land, so being able to get from the land to the water without using a lot of energy is important. Seals love to sunbathe, which is why they will spend their time on land during the daylight hours, and then rerturn to the water after sunset. They are drawn to low tide areas due to the large amount of food for them that collects there.

DIET: piscivorous BEHAVIOUR: Seals are solitary animals; they make aggressive snorts or wave their flippers to signal to other seals to keep their distance. However, in winter, during the breeding season, they gather in large groups. Caspian seals can dive up to 50 meters deep. The gestation period is eleven months. ENEMIES: Wolves, Sea Eagles

THREATS: housing & urban areas, commercial and industrial areas, Tourism and recreation areas, oil and gas drilling, shipping lanes, fishing and harvesting of aquatic resources, recreational activities, work & other activities, ecosystem modifications, pollution, climate change and severe weather.

AT THE SEA

Left: Seals on Harmony Oil Platform Jared Blumenfeld. October 2011

Right: Caspian Sea shore. Iwan Baan.

Caspian Sea

Problem: The Caspian Sea’s ecosystems face several challenges. Due to climate change and higher evaporation levels, the water level in the Caspian Sea is sinking by 6 centimeters every year.1. Moreover, the Caspian Sea is highly polluted due to the offshore oil industry, and high demand for natural black caviar is leading to overfishing. Although the Caspian Sea is best known for its Sturgeon, I decided to focus on another species: the Caspian seal (Pusa caspica). This is the only

1 J. L. Chen, T. Pekker. 2017. Long-term Caspian Sea level change. Texas : American Geophysical Union, 2017. endemic mammal in the Caspian Sea, and it is highly endangered. Immediate action is required to save it from extinction.

A century ago, the population of Caspian seals stood at more than one million species. Today the population is less than one hundred thousand. Not only is the species suffering from water pollution caused by oil extraction, the seals are also losing their habitat on the coasts. Areas covered with ice are the main breeding grounds for Caspian seals, but due to climate change these areas are shrinking, leading to a more vulnerable scenario for seals and their offspring. Due to the continuous shrinking of the Caspian seal habitat, it is necessary to provide safe breeding areas for them.