PROBLEMS OF REGIONAL SEAS 2001 PROCEEDINGS OF THE INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON THE PROBLEMS OF REGIONAL SEAS 12 – 14 MAY 2001 ISTANBUL, TURKEY Editor in-Chief Bayram Öztürk Co-Editor Nesrin Algan All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior permission from the Turkish Marine Research Foundation ( TÜDAV ). The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this publication are entirely those of the authors and should not be attributed in any manner to the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV). Texts are as originally submitted. Copyright : Turkish Marine Research Foundation 2001, ISBN – 975-97132-3-3 Citation : Bayram Öztürk (Editor in-Chief), Nesrin Algan (Co-editor), 2001. Proceedings of the International Symposium on the Problems of Regional Seas. Available from : Turkish Marine Research Foundation P.O. Box 10 Beykoz / İstanbul, Turkey Tel: 0216 4240772 Fax: 0216 4240771 E-mail: [email protected] Web site: www.tudav.org Printed by : Anadolu Ofset Tel: 0212 5671389 Cover design by : Piramit Advertising Tel: 0212 2590440 CONTENTS Page PREFACE v THE CASPIAN SEA Caspian Sea level and ecological problems Mamedov, R. 1 An international law perspective of transit of oil and gas in the Caspian Region and the environmental impact of its extraction Brexendorff, A. 12 The problem of delimitation in the Caspian Sea Franckx, E., Razavi, A. 27 Geo-politics of the Caspian Region – energy, environment and (in)security Aydın, M. 38 THE BLACK SEA –AZOV SEA Ecological and fishery problems of the Sea of Azov Volovik, S. P. 49 The role of international environmental institutions in protecting regional seas: A focus on the Black Sea Sezer, S. 54 The Danube role in the Black Sea contamination Alexandrov, B., Berlinsky, N., Bogatova, Y., Bushuev, S., Garkavaya G., Zaitsev, Y. 64 THE TURKISH STRAITS Regional transport demands and the safety of navigation in the Turkish Straits: A balance at risk İstikbal, C. 76 Ship originated pollution in the Turkish Straits System Öztürk, B., Öztürk, A. A., Algan, N. 86 Oil transport in the Turkish Straits Bilbo, M. 95 i Page The passage of vessels carrying hazardous cargo through the Turkish Straits Ünlü, N. 99 User fees for straits Oral, N. 108 Passage regimes and regulatory traffic measures for oil tanker access to enclosed or semi – enclosed seas: Caspian Sea oil and the Turkish and Danish Straits Plant, G. 118 THE AEGEAN SEA Which straits regime in the Aegean Sea? Toluner, S. 139 Islands and maritime boundary delimitation in the semi – enclosed of the Aegean Özbek, D. 158 The interconnected Aegean Sea disputes Van Dyke, J. 172 The significance of the Eritrea/Yemen arbitration for the Aegean insular formations Kwiatkowska, B. 206 Some reflections upon maritime boundary delimitation in the Aegean Sea Versan, R. 245 Turkish-Greek approaches to resolving the Aegean disputes Bahçeli, T. 249 From competition to partnership? A path towards „Aegean‟ reconciliation. A Greek view Ifantis, K. 258 Applying the Law of the Sea in the Aegean Sea Oxman, H. B. 266 ii Page THE MEDITERRANEAN SEA Aspects of governance of regional seas with particular reference to the Mediterranean Sea Kullenberg, G. 281 The Adriatic Sea and UNCLOS: the Croatian maritime code and legal regime of its exclusive economic zone Lulić, M., Vio, I. 293 Current problems in the Mediterranean Sea Marsit, M.M. 303 iii PREFACE We, the Turkish Marine Research Foundation (TÜDAV), organized the second international symposium on seas, namely “The International Symposium on the Problems of Regional Seas”. When we organized the International Symposium on the Aegean Sea in Bodrum last year, we realized that a meeting with broader perspectives can be useful to understand the problems of the seas around Turkey. Facing the Black Sea, Turkish Straits System, Aegean Sea and Mediterranean Sea, Turkey is a real peninsula. All these regional seas, as well as the Caspian Sea, are closely related to Turkey‟s policies, economy, and environmental problems. These are important for peace and development of all riparian countries, not only for Turkey . Each sea has distinct characteristics. The Caspian Sea, actually a lake, is attracting attention as a rich oil bed. The Black Sea is undoubtedly one of the most seriously polluted seas in the world. The Turkish Straits System, connecting the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, is also suffering from various human activities, especially heavy marine traffic. The Aegean Sea disputes are some of the most critical issues between Turkey and Greece. The Mediterranean Sea, under great ecological stress, has the oldest convention for its protection, from which all of us can learn something about governing a regional sea. The aim of this symposium is, first of all, to exchange information between scientists, experts, and decision makers from different countries. Next,we can discuss how we can contribute to the peace, protection and development of the regional seas. Needless to say, international cooperation is needed as water bodies do not recognize borders… As an NGO, we are very happy to serve as a facilitator for this meeting of respected scientists and experts. We hope this symposium can shed some light to new approaches to solve the problems of regional seas. Last but not least, we thank the following organizations for their kind support: Strategic Research Committee, Ataköy Marina, BP Turkey, Chamber of Shipping, and Piramit Advertising. Special thanks are also due to Mr. Sedat Altunay of Ataköy Marina and Dr . Sibel Sezer for their continuous support and to Dr. Ayaka Amaha Öztürk for her help in editoring this volume. Bayram Öztürk Director, TÜDAV v Proc. of the Int. Symposium on the Problems of Regional Seas, 12-14 May 2001, Istanbul-Turkey CASPIAN SEA LEVEL AND ECOLOGICAL PROBLEMS Ramiz MAMEDOV Institute of Geography, Academy of the Science 370143, H. Javid str., 31, Baku, Azerbaijan ABSTRACT At present time two main problems for the Caspian Sea are: level fluctuations and its ecological condition. The peculiarities of fluctuations of the Caspian Sea level during ecological and historical periods are considered and period instrumental overviews. The reasons of level fluctuations are determined, are given long-term forecast, ecological and socio-economical consequences from last rising of the Caspian Sea level are analyzed. Viewing ecological conditions of the Caspian Sea are given classification of the main sources of sea pollution and areas of their transgression. INTRODUCTION The most characteristic feature of the Caspian Sea is periodic fluctuations in its level, which is different from other large lakes of the planet. Depending on the sea level, which at the present time is 27,03 m below of the World Ocean level, area and available volume of the Caspian Sea change. Among multitude problems the main ones are: the fluctuations of the Caspian Sea level and its ecological situation. In the past, unexpected transgressions and regressions of the level had an influence on the fate of the whole ethnos. According to GUMILEV (1980), one of the factors which undermined the power of the ancient Khazar state (which was located in the north-west part of the Caspian Sea coast) was sudden transgression of the Caspian in X B.C., which flooded the great part of pastures in the northern Pre- Caspian region. In the 1950s and 1960s, whenever there was a drop in the level, the slogan ―Caspian should be saved‖ reigned supreme. In 1990 during a rise in the level of water in the sea, protective measures were carried out under the slogan ―We must be saved from the Caspian‖. MATERIALS and METHODS For studying peculiarities and reasons of the sea level fluctuations were used geological, historical and archeological data, and also shooting location Baku measurements post materials. For carrying out long-term forecast on the Caspian Sea level was used special mathematics apparate. Ecological situation of the Caspian Sea, and its coastal zone were determined on the base of authorities materials on the natural protection and author‘s own investigations. RESULTS and DISCUSSION Peculairities of the variability of the Caspian Sea level. On the term cycle the variability of the Caspian Sea level can be classified as: geological and historical periods of variability, yearly and seasonal changeabilities and short-term fluctuations. Geological period. In terms of geographical time, it has been established fairly accurately that the lowest levels were observed in the time immediately prior to the Neo-Caspian, the Pre-Chvalin, the Pre-Khazar and especially in the Pre-Baku epoch (over 500 000 years ago) when the level of the was recorded at an absolute level of +150 m. The times when the level was at its lowest were crucial moments in the evolution of the Caspian Basin, since each rise in level following on: from a period with a low level was characterised by its own specific features. It was established that the scale of fluctuation of the Caspian during the fourth period totalled approximately 300 m, (RICAGOV, 1992; FEDOROV, 1956). It was established that in the Quartanary period of the Caspian Sea through Kuma-Manich Hollow was connected with the Azov and Black Seas. Historical period. Archeological research of the Caspian and region determination of the absolute age of sedimentary deposits in the Caspian by radiocarbon dating, as well as reliable and unambiguous data interpreted from historical sources, have allowed to calculate the level of the Caspian Sea during various centuries of the last 3,000 years (MAMEDOV, 1995). As seen from Fig.1 in historical period the average secular level location was nearly – 27.0 m, that is near present value. The secular its tendention could change from 0.4 m in century (from VI c. b.n.e.