Foul smells and survival along the Caspian Sea – in pictures

As he travels along the Iranian coast, Khashayar Javanmardi photographs rusting ships, blazing wetland fires – and humans struggling to stay alive

As he travels along the Caspian Sea, Iranian artist Khashayar Javanmardi documents the human connection with the environment. His approach to photography blends the melancholy of climate anxiety with classical documentary, along the shores of the world’s largest enclosed body of water. This image, taken in May 2019, shows how a breakwater, created without expert guidance, has disrupted water circulation and increased sedimentation in the Anzali lagoon, exacerbating drought conditions and water evaporation. Caspian: A Southern Reflection by Khashayar Javanmardi is published by Loose Joints

The first part of an ongoing project mapping the region, Javanmardi’s images of the Iranian shores of the Caspian visualise the environmental crisis, portraying the lives of local inhabitants whose existence becomes smaller and poorer as the sea deteriorates. Industrial waste, sewage and pollutants from commercial fleets have severely impacted aquatic life, threatening food security and causing significant economic losses. The fishing rate has plummeted by 70% in recent years, profoundly affecting local fishermen’s livelihoods

The Caspian Sea is bounded by Iran on the south, Russia on the north, Azerbaijan on the west, and Turkmenistan and Kazakhstan on the east. Growing up on the shores, Javanmardi witnessed the once-abundant lake fall victim to unregulated exploitation, pollution, overfishing and climate change, creating a toxic cocktail that impoverishes those who depend on its diminishing returns. Every year, approximately 122,000 tons of pollutants from the Caspian coastal states, including oil pollution, domestic and industrial sewage, pollute the marine environment, endangering other species

The fishing industry, once a vibrant source of livelihood in the region, is now facing decline due to various challenges, leaving many fishermen struggling to make ends meet. This image was taken in December 2018

In the southern Caspian region, ‘Parreh fishing’, a method that involves using tractors to drag large nets through the water, is a primary method of fishing. However, this practice has been criticised for its negative impact on the local ecosystem and the sustainability of fish populations. This image was taken in December 2018

Farshid’s family was forced to migrate from southern Iran to the north due to the devastating effects of drought and water scarcity. Farshid says that no one remained in their village and all the residents of that area settled in cities around the Caspian Sea. This image was taken in August 2014

Morteza, a 23-year-old shepherd with a deep connection to the sea, expresses his concern over the changing nature of the Caspian, which he feels is ‘angry’ due to human disregard and lack of gratitude for its bounty. You can read more about this image, which was taken in January 2021, in the Observer’s Big Picture feature

A farmer having a siesta while water is pumping from the lagoon to his farm. Extracting water directly from the lagoon has no regulation. Taken in May 2020

Javid, a local worker who earns a living selling wood, is one of many people affected by the illegal wood trafficking trade that plagues the Caspian region. The unsustainable harvesting and trafficking is causing severe damage to the local ecosystem. This image was taken in June 2022

The Anzali wetland, a fragile ecosystem, has been ablaze for three days, allegedly set on fire by profiteers who seek to claim the land around the lagoon. The fires have burned over 12 hectares of the wetland and required the intervention of rescuers using helicopters. The incident has once again highlighted the urgent need for measures to protect the lagoon and its biodiversity. Taken in September 2021

In Ganjeh village in the north of Iran during Ashoura mourning, women stand in front of a holy mountain and pray for Islam and more rain

The illegal dumping of waste in close proximity to the Caspian Sea is contributing to severe pollution, as leachate from the waste seeps into the groundwater and directly contaminates the sea. Over 9,000 tons of waste are dumped daily in the northern provinces, threatening the region’s surface and groundwater as well as the Caspian Sea’s ecosystem. Taken in October 2020

The old and new caviar office in Kiashahr Port has been abandoned for a decade due to a decline in the industry and the weakening of management. Taken in July 2022

The Ghezel Ozen River, one of Iran’s longest, has dried up due to a lack of rainfall and climate change, leading to a devastating loss of aquatic wildlife and creating a foul odour for miles. Taken in February 2022