The Minister of Environment and Water Rositsa Karamfilova issued orders for the declaration of three protected areas falling entirely within the maritime spaces of Bulgaria - Protected Area BG0001500 “Aladzha banka”, Protected Area BG0001501 “Emona”, and Protected Area BG0001502 “Otmanli”.

The aim of the protection areas is to preserve and maintain the natural habitat types and species, their populations and distribution within the borders of the areas, so as to achieve and maintain their favorable environmental status in the Black Sea biogeographical region. This will ensure the connectivity and integrity of the network of protected areas in the country as part of the European ecological network “Natura 2000”.

Within the protected area “Aladzha banka” under protection fall the following types of natural habitats: reefs and sandy and muddy shallows permanently covered by seawater, as well as the habitats of the porpoise species (Phocoena phocoena), Tursiops truncatus, the Danubian mackerel (Alosa immaculata), and the  Alosa tanaica. The zone expands over a total area of 6,6964 sq. km.

The “Emona” protected area encompasses a total area of 553,4528 sq. km. Again the protection covers reefs as natural habitat reefs and species of Phocoena phocoena,  Tursiops truncates, Alosa immaculata, and Alosa tanaica.

In the “Otmanli” protected area, sandy and silty shallows and the habitats of the Phocoena phocoena, Tursiops truncatus and Alosa immaculata species are subject to protection. The zone covers a total area of 0,0883 sq. km.

The three orders provide the legally prescribed regimes to ensure the protection of the types of natural habitats and species subject to protection within the areas.

The full text of each of the orders is published on the page of the Information System for Protected Areas of the Ecological Network “Natura 2000” (https://natura2000.egov.bg/),  where other documents relevant to the protected areas can be found, including standard “Natura 2000” forms with data and estimates, maps and their boundaries in digital form.

On the public register for declared protected areas, one can access more information as well as quick links to the dossiers of protected areas on the page of the Information System for Protected Areas from the Ecological Network “Natura 2000” https://www.moew.government.bg/bg/publichen -registur-za-obyavenite-zastiteni-zoni-i-promenite-v-tyah-suglasno-direktiva-92-43-eio-za-opazvane-na-prirodnite-mestoobitaniya-i-na-divata-flora-i-fauna /