• The water sampling frequency is sufficient to make an objective assessment of the current state of marine waters.
• On 16 June, Minister Popov coordinated joint actions with his Romanian and Ukrainian counterparts.

The Ministry of Environment and Water (MOEW) conducts comprehensive monitoring of possible environmental damage in the Bulgarian Black Sea coastal area following the destruction of the wall of the Nova Kakhovka dam, located on the Dnieper River in Ukraine.

To date, satellite observations and modelling of water currents have so far not given any cause for concern.

According to summarized data from the latest analyses, which include the current weather forecast from June 6 to June 24 from the Center for Integrated Coastal Zone Management and Monitoring at the Naval Academy “N. Y. Vaptsarov”, as well as satellite observations, no objects were identified that could be classified as pollution.

The new data sent by the Institute of Space Research and Technology at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences to the Black Sea Basin Directorate for the area around Odessa also show no detected pollution in the Black Sea area of the Republic of Bulgaria.

The Minister of Environment and Water Julian Popov on June 8 commissioned the Black Sea Basin Directorate - Varna and the Executive Environmental Agency to conducted an enhanced monitoring of coastal marine waters, which is being conducted at three sites in coastal marine waters - Durankulak, Shabla, and Kaliakra, while the MOEW selected three additional monitoring sites located in the coastal zone.

Additional indicators are included in the current monitoring to track the potential impact of the Dnieper River waters on the Black Sea. Monitoring is carried out weekly at coastal sites.

The location of the stations is in accordance to coastal accessibility, the direction of the dominant currents, and the bathymetric data available for the area. The potential risk of pollution of the marine environment due to military activities will be monitored. The presence of petroleum products, metals, the radionuclides caesium-137 and tritium are monitored and additional indicators (pesticides, etc.) are included in response to the emerging situation. To date, no excess quantities have been detected for any of the indicators examined.

The status of not only coastal but also inland water currents is being monitored. Monitoring of the status of marine waters is coordinated with the Ministry of Tourism with a view to ensuring a peaceful tourist season.

The frequency of sampling is sufficient to make an objective assessment of the present state of marine waters. The results will be made available to the competent authorities in due time, in accordance with the time required to analyse at the sites the selected indicators.

The MOEW exchanges information on a daily basis with the Ukrainian, Moldovan, and Romanian authorities on potential pollution of Black Sea waters.

On 16 June, Minister Popov coordinated joint actions with his Romanian and Ukrainian counterparts. For more information on the meetings, see here.

The role of the MOEW is to monitor and inform the institutions responsible for prevention and response to risks identified. Up-to-date information on the results of the conducted measurements will be provided to the competent institutions and the public in due course.

Signals in cases of possible signs of pollution along the coastline can be submitted to the Green Phone of the Ministry of Environment and Water: 0887 088 440 or 02/9888205, as well as to e-mail address: nccw@moew.government.bg, and also to the Green Phone of the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection - Varna: 0884 290 634 or 052/634 582, Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection - Burgas: 0889 096 577 or 056/813 212, and Basin Directorate Black Sea Region - Varna. 0886 406 816.

Dear media representatives,

The MOEW Press Centre is at your disposal for further questions related to Bulgaria Black Sea waters monitoring.

E-mail address: press@moew.government.bg