Kazakhstan: Oil extraction in Caspian region could lead to extinction of sturgeons.

The functioning of oil fields in the Caspian coastal zone and offshore strips
could lead to the extinction of unique sturgeons and all living organisms in
the area, says parliamentarian of the Kazakh Mazhilis (lower house of
Parliament) Erzhan Isakulov, the VK correspondent in Kazakhstan reports.

According to the parliamentarian, sturgeon numbers in the
Urals-Caspian basin decreased dramatically.

Official data shows that as a result of mass poaching, the number of
sturgeons has decreased by several times, he added.

To add to all this, fishing organizations are catching marketable fish
during the spawning periods, he says.