Framework Convention for the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Caspian Sea.

The Convention consists of 9 Sections composed of 37 articles dealing with the following matters: 1) general provisions (sect. 1, arts. 1-3); 2) general commitments (sect. 2, arts. 4-6); 3) preventive arrangements, reduction of pollution and pollution control (sect. 3, arts. 7-13); 4) protection, conservation and renewal of marine ecosystem (sect. 4, arts. 14-16); 5) proceedings (sect. 5, arts. 17-21); 6) organizational structures (sect. 6, arts. 22-23); 7) protocols and annexes (sect. 7, arts. 24-25); 8) implementation and observance (sect. 8, arts. 26-30); 9) conclusive provisions (sect. 9, arts. 31-37). The purpose of the present Convention shall be the protection of marine environment against pollution including protection, conservation, and renewal, sustainable and rational management of marine biological resources (art. 2). The Parties have agreed to prevent, reduce and control pollution of the Caspian sea from land-based sources (art. 7) and ship-base sources (art. 9). The Parties shall cooperate in the creation of early warning system as regards industrial accidents and ecological disasters (art. 13). The Parties shall cooperate for the purpose of: 1) conservation and reproduction of marine species ensuring maximum sustainable management thereof; 2) promotion of selective fishing methods reducing to minimum the losses in the process of industrial fisheries and bycatch; 3) protection of endemic, endangered and protected biological species; 4) ecosystem preservation (art. 15). The Parties shall cooperate in the fields of data collection and reporting, and also monitoring of water quality and quantity (art. 18).