Speaking to IRNA, Davoud Mirshekar further remarked that animal biodiversity in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman is very high as such statistics show that about 800 species of fish, 15 of shrimps, 10 of marine mammals and 5 of marine turtles as well as 90 species of birds and a great diversity of Plankton live in this water.
Pointing to the presence of 22 million birds in the Persian Gulf in the winter time he said two species of mangrove forests and different marine mammals and sharks are among other animal species of the Persian Gulf.
As for the biodiversity of the Caspian Sea, he said over 300 animal species live in the Caspian Sea of which more than 100 species are the local fish species of the Caspian and 6 species of sturgeon fish which are valuable economic resources and in other words 90% of the world caviar is produced in the Caspian Sea.
He said the Caspian seals are the only mammals of the Caspian Sea, adding that a large diversity of the Planktons, benthos and macro benthos and marine birds have further added to the importance of the Caspian Sea ecosystem.
As for the threatened species in the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman, he said 10 species of turbots, 23 of sharks, 5 of turtles, 16 marine and coastline birds, 22 of marine mammals, 5 marine weeds, 46 of gastropods, 2 of mangroves, 44 of coral reefs and 23 of Persian Gulf alga are on the red list of IUCN.
Mirshekar noted that 38 species of bone fish, 6 of sturgeon and one of the Caspian seal are also on the list of IUCN.
He said with regard to the critical condition of the marine species, special attention of the local forums and provincial officials are needed to move towards sustainable development through collective cooperation.
NS**1412
Animal species of Persian Gulf, Caspian Sea on IUCN red list
Sep 27, 2015, 5:35 PM
News ID:
81775490
Tehran, Sept. 27, IRNA – A senior official of the marine ecosystem of the Department of the Environment (DoE) said 230 animal species of Iran threatened with extinction are on the red list of the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) of which 186 species belong to the Persian Gulf and Gulf of Oman and 44 species to the Caspian Sea.
