How can fishing nets threaten Caspian seals?

Caspian seals face a significant threat from fishing nets through accidental capture, known as bycatch. Each year, an estimated 12,000 seals are caught in nets, particularly within sturgeon fisheries.1

This entanglement poses a severe risk to the species, which is currently classified as endangered. When seals become trapped, they may suffer injuries or death. To address this, some coastal communities—notably in Iran—have increased efforts to rescue and rehabilitate entangled seals rather than euthanizing them. Additionally, regional efforts to prohibit illegal fishing are critical, as these measures help reduce the likelihood of seals encountering and becoming trapped in nets in the first place. Protecting these marine mammals from such preventable deaths is an essential component of broader conservation strategies for the Caspian Sea ecosystem.12