Azov Sea Salinity Hits Record High
The salinity of the Azov Sea reached a historical maximum of 16 parts per thousand in 2026, according to the Southern Scientific Center of the Russian Academy of Sciences, due to reduced freshwater inflow from the Don River. This has led to significant changes in the sea's ecosystem, including shifts in fish populations and increased jellyfish numbers.
Consensus
- The salinity of the Azov Sea has reached a historical maximum of 16 promille.
- This increase is attributed to reduced freshwater inflow from the Don River due to decreased precipitation.
- The salinity increase has led to changes in the marine ecosystem, including shifts in fish species composition.
- The Azov Sea is now in a prolonged phase of salinization, unprecedented in the past 150 years of instrumental observation.
- The Azov Sea is the shallowest sea in the world, with an average depth of no more than 13.5 meters.
- The salinity increase has resulted in the dominance of species such as anchovy, gobies, and pike-perch in commercial fishing.
Points of divergence
- The salinity of the Black Sea is 18-19 promille. — riamo
- The annual average increase in salinity is 0.25 promille. — vesti
- The salinity of the Azov Sea increased more than double in the Taganrog Bay and 1.5 times in the Azov Sea since before 2007. — riamo
- The salinity increase is 60% over the past 19 years. — vesti
- The Azov Sea became a Russian internal sea after the annexation of Donbass and Novorossiya territories. — vesti
Coverage (2 sources)
- Almost Black: Salinity of the Sea of Azov has reached a historical maximum — РИАМО
- Salinity of the Sea of Azov has reached a historical maximum — Вести