According to Reuters, Azerbaijan’s Deputy Ecology Minister Rauf Hajiyev raised alarm over the issue of the shallowing of the Caspian Sea and stated that while the sea has been gradually getting shallower for decades, recent data indicates the trend is only accelerating.
Over the past five years, the sea level has dropped by 0.93 meters (3 feet), by 1.5 meters over the last decade and by 2.5 meters in the past 30 years. Hajiyev estimates the current rate of decline at 20 to 30 centimeters per year.
As a result, the falling sea level is already affecting coastal communities and port operations. Hajiyev noted that ships are encountering increasing difficulties when entering and maneuvering in the Port of Baku, Azerbaijan’s capital, leading to reduced cargo capacity and rising logistics costs.
“The retreat of the coastline changes natural conditions, disrupts economic activity and creates new challenges for sustainable development” said Rauf Hajiyev.