Iran opens first national centre for Caspian seal conservation

Iran has inaugurated its first specialised centre dedicated to the conservation, treatment and examination of Caspian seals. This is reported by Tehran Times, a partner of TV BRICS.

According to the Department of Environment, the centre will support rescue operations, rapid response to injuries, and scientific research aimed at identifying causes of mortality in the endangered species. Fishermen are being trained to report incidents and transport injured seals quickly, while drones will be used to enhance monitoring along the coast.

Officials emphasised the role of coastal communities in reporting sightings and stranded carcasses. The initiative is part of a national action plan launched in 2024 to halt the decline of Caspian seal populations, which have dropped from around one million to about 70,000, according to the IUCN Red List.

Additional measures include university-led research in Nur County, strengthened cooperation between provincial environment departments and enhanced training for rescue teams. Iran is also coordinating efforts with neighbouring Caspian states to harmonise response and assessment procedures.

The upcoming Seventh Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea (COP7), to be held in Tehran, will place Caspian seal protection high on the agenda.

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