Status of Crayfish (Astacidae) Populations on the Eastern Caspian Sea Shelf in the Context of Climate Change and Declining Water Levels

The studies were carried out in June 2023 in the Kazakh Gulf of the Caspian Sea at a level of 28.99 m. Habitat ecological characteristics, distribution, number, species, sex, size composition of crayfish, and the nature of diseases are studied. An assessment of the status of the stocks and commercial and economic value is given. The hypothesis about the reasons for the significant changes in the status of crayfish populations in the gulf is supported.