Caspian Seal State Nature Reserve (Государственный природный резерват по сохранению каспийского тюленя)

State nature reserve being established in the northeastern Kazakh sector of the Caspian Sea (Mangistau and Atyrau regions) to protect the red-listed Caspian seal and its key habitats. Total area ~109,558 ha with a protected zone of ~69,839 ha covering marine waters and coast. As a strict nature reserve (резерват) it carries protected-area fishing restrictions; all extractive fishing including spearfishing is prohibited within its core marine waters. Center placed in the NE Caspian seal-habitat zone near Komsomolets (Tsesarevich) Bay; exact decree boundary not yet published.