Black sea

The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution

A. Introduction

The Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (the Black Sea Commission or BSC), via its Permanent Secretariat, is the intergovernmental body established in implementation of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention), its Protocols and the Strategic Action Plan for the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea.

The Strategic Action Plan for the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea, adopted in Sofia, Bulgaria in 2009 (which replaced BS SAP 1996), distinguishes between three key environmental management approaches for the region: ICZM; the Ecosystem Approach; and Integrated River Basin Management. The BS SAP 2009 includes a series of measures to tackle the main environmental problems in the Black Sea: Ecosystem Quality Objectives; short, medium- and long-term targets; and legal and institutional reforms and investments.

The Commission’ basic objective is to substantiate the general obligation of the Contracting Parties to prevent, reduce and control the pollution in the Black Sea in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and to provide a legal framework for co-operation and concerted actions to fulfil this obligation.

Owing to natural factors, the diversity of species of Black Sea fauna is approximately three times lower when compared with that of the Mediterranean. Specific features of the Black Sea make it very vulnerable to disturbances of its environment and ecosystems.

Eutrophication, pollution, and irresponsible fishing resulted in an overall decline of: biological resources, the diversity of species and landscapes, and of the aesthetic and recreational values of the Black Sea, thereby bringing its ecosystems to the edge of collapse.

National efforts and regional - international cooperation in the framework of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution expressed in the concerted actions of the Strategic Action Plan for Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea brought the first signs of recovery to the Black Sea.

B. Overview

The Black Sea is a nearly enclosed and zonally elongated basin with the zonal dimension of about 1200 km and the meridional dimension varying from 500 km on the western side to 250 km towards the eastern side. With a surface area of 423,000 km2, it is approximately one-fifth of the surface area of the Mediterranean. It has a limited interaction with the Aegean Sea through the Turkish Straits System. The Black Sea receives fresh water inflows all around the basin but the important ones (Danube, Dniepr and Dniestr) discharge into the north-western coastal waters. The River Danube being one of the largest rivers in Europe introduced dramatic effects on the Black Sea ecosystem.

Having in mind that 87% of the sea water is naturally anoxic, the Black Sea is highly sensitive to anthropogenic impacts due to the huge catchment area and almost landlocked nature. Every year, about 350 cubic kilometres of river water pours into the Black Sea.

This water brings a variety of products originated from the activity of more than 170 million people, who live in some of the most populated areas of the 17 different countries along river banks.

The sea continues to suffer from a long list of ailments:

• pollution by land-based sources;
• losses of biodiversity as a consequence of pollution, invasive species and the destruction of habitats;
• overexploitation of marine living resources leading to a collapse of fisheries, etc, having a significant impact on the ecosystem health.

C. Areas of work

The areas of concern of the Black Sea Commission are, inter alia to: 

1. Monitor and assess pollution, control pollution from land-based sources,
2. Ensure conservation of biological diversity,
3. Address environmental safety aspects of shipping,
4. Address environmental aspects of management of fisheries and other marine living resources and
5. Promote integrated coastal zone management and maritime policy.

The annual black sea commission work programme 2019/2020 has these areas of focus:

I. General coordination

1. Expanding cooperation with international organizations and NGOs of relevance through joint activities or shared expertise
2. Integration of Black Sea projects in the work of the Black Sea Commission
3. Implementation of the relevant projects and sustainability of its outcomes
4. Operation of the Black Sea Information System (BSIS) and GIS
5. Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (BSIMAP 2017-2022)
6. Coordination of the Black Sea Institutional and Expert Network, enhancing cooperation with the scientific community
7. Raising awareness of the activities of the BSC, increasing visibility of BSC activities
8. Implementation of the MoUs between the BSC and ICPDR, BSC and EEA, the BSC and ACCOBAMS, BSC and GFCM, BSC and UNEP/MAP
9. Cooperation with BS MoU on PSC, with PABSEC
10. Involvement of the private sector and NGOs in the implementation of the BS SAP and Regional Contingency Plan (RCP)

II. Policy Actions

1. Preserve commercial marine living resources
2. Conservation of Black Sea Biodiversity and Habitats 
3. Reduce eutrophication
4. Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota.  
5. Sustainable Human Development, ICZM , Public awareness

 

D. Ongoing projects and programmes with partners

• Black Sea Commission concluded MoUs with UNEP/MAP (Barcelona Convention); GFCM (FAO); ACCOBAMS Agreement and IMO.
• It has more than nine observers, collaborates with UNEP and helps to promote relevant projects and initiatives in the Black Sea region, such as

1. FP6 Upgrade BS-SCENE (Upgrade Black Sea Scientific Network), in 2008-2011,
2. FP7 CREAM (Coordinated Research in support to application of Ecosystem Approach to Fisheries and management advice in the Mediterranean and Black Seas in 2011-2013,
3. EMODNet (European Marine Observation and Data Network) having different components of interest to the Black Sea scientific community (chemistry, physics, biology, etc.) from 2008 and ongoing still,
4. FP7 ODEMM (Options for Delivering Ecosystem-Based Marine Management) in 2010-2013,
5. FP7 PEGASO (People for Ecosystem Based Governance in Assessing Sustainable Development of Ocean and Coast) in 2010-2013),
6. FP7 PERSEUS (Policy-oriented marine Environmental Research for the Southern EUropean Seas) in 2012-2015, FP7 CoCoNET (Towards Coast to Coast NETwork of marine protected areas (from the shore to high and deep sea), coupled with sea-based wind energy potential) in 2012-2015,
7. DG-ENV IRIS-SES (Integrated Regional monitoring Implementation Strategy in the South-European Seas) in 2013-2015,
8. DG-ENV MISIS (MSFD Guiding Improvements in the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring System) in 2012-2014.

• Currently other similar projects started in 2018, such as: BS-CBC ANEMONE (Assessing the vulnerability of the Black Sea marine ecosystem to human pressures) in 2018-2021, H2020 COASTAL (Collaborative and sea integration platform) in 2018-2022. 

E. Partnerships

The Black Sea Commission aims at enhancing cooperation with international organizations and has granted observer status to the following organizations: GEF/UNDP; UNEP; European Commission, International Commission for the Protection of the Danube River (ICPDR); Organization of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC); Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS); BSC-Port State Control Memorandum of Understanding; the Black Sea NGO Network; International Maritime Organization (IMO); Tehran Convention Secretariat (Caspian Sea), International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA, Monaco) and University of Geneva (UNIGE).

F. Protocols

1. Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution from Land Based Sources (LBS Protocol); 
2. Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment Against Pollution by Dumping; 
3. Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations; 
4. The Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol (CBD Protocol).

G. Organisational structure

1. Contracting Parties - Six coastal countries the Republic of Bulgaria (Bulgaria), Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, the Republic of Turkey, and Ukraine. 
2. Commissioners - Made up of 6 Commissioners (one for each coastal country) and a chairman. Chairmanship for one year and rotates between coastal countries
3. Permanent Secretariat (BSC PS) was established in 2000 to assist the Black Sea Commission on implementation of provisions of the Convention and the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS SAP). The BSC PS is located in Istanbul (Republic of Turkey). Being an executive body of BSC, the BSC PS coordinates activities of the Advisory Groups to the Black Sea Commission, which are its main source of expertise, information and support.
4. Advisory Groups - The main source of expertise, information and support in implementation of the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan. 

• ESAS - Advisory Group on the Environmental Safety Aspects of Shipping
• PMA - Advisory Group on the Pollution Monitoring and Assessment
• LBS - Advisory Group on Control of Pollution from Land Based Sources
• ICZM - Advisory Group on the Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management
• CBD - Advisory Group on the Conservation of Biological Diversity
• FOMLR - Advisory Group on the Environmental Aspects of the Management of Fisheries and other Marine Living Resources

5. Regional Activity Centres – The activities of the Advisory Groups are supported by respective Regional Activity Centres (RACs), which were established in accordance with the 1996 Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS SAP):

• AC PMA Pollution Monitoring and Assessment, Odessa, Ukraine
• AC LBS Control of Pollution from Land Based Sources, Istanbul, Turkey
• AC ICZM Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management, Krasnodar, Russian Federation
• AC CBD Conservation of Biological Diversity, Batumi, Georgia
• AC FOMLR Environmental Aspects of Fisheries and Other Marine Living Resources, Constanta, Romania
• AC ESAS Environmental Safety Aspects of Shipping, Varna, Bulgaria

6. National Focal Points (NFPs)  – They are nominated by Contracting Parties for each Advisory Group

H. Achievements

1. Regional Action Plan on Marine Litter management for the Black Sea, adopted during 34th BSC Regular meeting in October 2018.
2. The adoption, in October 2016, of the Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (BSIMAP) for 2017-2022. BSIMAP was first implemented in 2001 to address the main transboundary environmental problems in the Black Sea region: eutrophication, water pollution and water quality, biodiversity change and decline, and habitat destruction. The latest version includes definitions of ‘Good Environmental Status’ for the Black Sea region, and indicator-based monitoring requirements linked to EC Marine Strategy Framework Directive descriptors.

I. Interesting facts

• The Black Sea is the most isolated from the World Ocean - connected to the Oceans via the Mediterranean Sea through Istanbul, Canakkale (Turk Straits) and Gibraltar straits and with the Sea of Azov in the northeast through the Kerch Strait.
• The Black Sea is considered anoxic at its deeper levels, which means it gets no oxygen below the surface layer.
• The Black Sea is the world's largest meromictic basin. This means that the upper layer of water and lower layer of water exchange very little.
• The Black Sea is home to many small islands with unique ecosystems. These islands belong to three different countries bordering the Black Sea.
• 90% of the lower Black Sea contains no oxygen, making it impossible for life to exist below 200 meters.

J. Website: http://www.blacksea-commission.org