In 1996, the six countries bordering the Black Sea, namely Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine, signed the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (SAP). The document contains the most complete set of strategies and measures for saving and rehabilitating the Black Sea, and since its signing, on October 31, we celebrate, every year, the International Black Sea Day.
From children’s drawing contests, seminars, conferences, exhibitions and debates of local public authorities to information events organized by volunteers involved in various environmental actions, everyone talks about the Black Sea or at least tries to do something to protect the Black Sea. But few know its history, and less and less are those who manage to protect it, without polluting it.
The Black Sea is an intercontinental sea, oriented east-west, between Europe and Asia, with an area of 461,000 km2 and a maximum depth of 2,211 m, which bathes the coast of Romania on a length of 245 km. On its shores are six countries: Bulgaria and Romania to the west, Ukraine to the north, the Russian Federation to the northeast, Georgia to the east and Turkey to the south.
The Black Sea is the third largest in Europe, after the Mediterranean and the North. It is also the most isolated sea from the planet’s ocean, the only connection with the rest of the world ocean, via the Mediterranean Sea, being through the Bosphorus, Dardanelles and Gibraltar straits and the Sea of Azov in the northeast, through the Kerch Strait.
Most of the fresh water that reaches the Black Sea comes from rivers and streams. They bring with them sediments that flow, along with the water, into the Black Sea. Because of this, the water in the Black Sea is darker than many other seas. Its average depth is 1,240 m, the maximum depth being 2,212 m.
In the Black Sea, oxygen is found only in the upper layer, with a depth of less than 200 meters. This layer provides a suitable environment for oxygen-breathing organisms, such as algae, higher plants, invertebrates, fish and marine animals. Only 10-13% of the volume of water in the Black Sea provides a suitable environment for marine life and allows the existence of an important biodiversity.
The characteristics of the Black Sea are different from those of other seas on the planet. The Black Sea differs from other seas in the world because it is a semi-closed sea, with a relatively low salinity compared to the world’s oceans, as well as due to its hydrogen sulfide level. These factors limit the diversity of species in the Black Sea, compared to the biodiversity of the Mediterranean Sea. 3,774 marine species have been found in the Black Sea, most of them invertebrates and plants.
Most stocks of fish in the Black Sea, already affected by the consequences of pollution, have been overexploited or threatened with overexploitation. There is a serious risk of losing valuable habitats and landscapes, and ultimately the biodiversity and productivity of the Black Sea ecosystem.
According to Agerpress, the ecological situation of the Black Sea has worsened in the last 35 years due to residues transported by rivers in 17 countries, overfishing and uncontrolled discharges of oil products.
The Black Sea is very vulnerable to pressure from human activities and its health depends on both coastal and non-coastal states.
However, marine pollution does not take into account borders, so the authorities, the business sector, non-governmental organizations and citizens must assume part of their responsibility for the protection of the marine and coastal environment by changing attitudes and understanding the need for sustainable development of the Black Sea.
An important step was taken by the Black Sea countries in June 2002 (Sofia, Bulgaria), when the Protocol on Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation was signed.
The protection against pollution of this single sea must be the responsibility not only of the countries bordering this sea, but of all the countries that benefit from the Black Sea river basin.
The day when we celebrate the Black Sea gives us the opportunity to find out interesting information about this stretch of water that gives us so much joy. Beyond the beach, sun and splash, the Black Sea is a very important ecosystem that we must protect.
The Black Sea must be loved and protected every day!
Sources:
http://ananp.gov.ro/ziua-internationala-a-marii-negre/
https://www.litoralulromanesc.ro/stire/31_octombrie_Ziua_Internationala_a_Marii_Negre.htm
https://www.vitalmm.ro/ro/media/evenimente/31-octombrie-ziua-internationala-a-marii-negre
https://www.juridice.ro/543769/ziua-internationala-a-marii-negre.html
Author: Camelia Franț – ECOM Team Romania
