Development of Seal Conservation Action and Management Plan (SCAMP; now also known as CSCAP) The first two drafts of SCAMP were developed in 2005/06 by the CISS team and Darwin CSCN, based on experience from the Baltic (HELCOM) and the Wadden Sea. The 4 th draft of the CSCAP has now been elaborated. These drafts were distributed among countries via the CEP and the CEP has prepared the 3 rd and the current 4 th draft, now referred to as the CSCAP

SCAMP (CSCAP) consists of 6 parts: Institutional arrangement; Conservation of seals and their habitats; Scientific background (research and monitoring) Reduction of taking (legal, illegal, and by catch) Public information Financial implications

The main activities suggested in the SCAMP are: Institutional arrangement Establish and maintain Regional Caspian Seal Conservation Network (CSCN) of a scientific group in each Caspian State. The CSCN will be represented by a panel of scientists from each country (to be known as the Regional Seal Centre, RSC) to give scientific advice based on consensus of its members. Elaborate document on the legal status of the CSCN and RSC and their interaction with other Regional and National Institutions

Conservation of seals and their habitats; To take appropriate measures for the protection of key habitats and for ensuring the preservation of areas which are essential to the maintenance of the vital biological functions of seals. To preserve habitats and seals, within and outside protected areas, from undue disturbance or changes resulting, directly or indirectly, from human activities. To identify areas of degraded seal habitat and explore possibilities for restoring such habitat or creating new habitat to compensate for losses. Prevention of illegal hunting To reduce disturbance by ice-breakers and other shipping

Scientific background (research and monitoring) To carry out a full annual survey on the entire winter ice-field of pups and adult seals To carry out counts at seal haul-out sites in non- iced areas of the Caspian, simultaneously with the annual February survey and at other seasons To describe, investigate and analyze all causes of mortality To investigate Caspian seal migration patterns, ice- breeding habitat selection and foraging locations using telemetry systems To investigate Caspian seal genetic diversity

Reduction of taking of (legal, illegal, and by catch RSC should prepare recommendations for Commission for Aquatic Bioresources of the Caspian Sea for all kinds of seal taking (commercial and scientific). RSC should prepare recommendations to National Governments and Commission for Aquatic Bioresources of the Caspian Sea on each event of taking seals for scientific research RSC to develop modern, non-lethal research methodologies for the Caspian basin

Public informationCSCN should establish and maintain Caspian seal information web-site in different languages, CSCN should publish brochures, posters and leaflets to enhance public awareness CSCN should publish all data obtained from seals count survey, seals health surveys, and investigation of seals mortalities events in scientific journals

Financial implicationIncorporate SCA MP in Caspian country National and Regional Strategic Action Plans Develop international projects dealing with conservation and investigation of the Caspian seal and submit it to the appropriate Organization

RECOMMENDATIONS by the CEP Steering Committee, Moscow, December 2006 To approve the Caspian Seals Conservation Action & Management Plan (CSCAP) as a guidance document for the voluntary adherence of the region and To invite the countries to include the provisions of the Plan to the extent possible in the National Conservation Action Plan (NCAP) update processes.

Our thanks to the Caspian Environment Programme who designed this presentation.