Gizilagaj (Ghizilagaj) National Park and Marine Protected Area

Established September 2018 on the basis of the Ghizil-Agaj State Reserve, this is the FIRST Marine Protected Area in the Caspian Sea. It lies on Gizilagaj Bay on the south-western Caspian shore (Lankaran region), south of the Kura/Aras river mouths, total ~100,000 ha with roughly one third marine. It is a no-take sanctuary for sub-adult sturgeon (beluga, stellate) and Caspian salmon; reserve staff run dedicated anti-poaching patrols against illegal fishing. As a state reserve/national park it is excluded from sport and leisure fish hunting under Article 11 of the Law on Fishing.