The Ministry of Environment and Water, through its regional offices, took immediate action in response to reports of oil products on the beaches of the Bulgarian Black Sea coast.

The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water (RIEW) in Burgas received 21 reports of fuel oil contamination on beaches along the Southern Black Sea coast. Immediately upon receiving these reports, experts from RIEW Burgas conducted on-site inspections in collaboration with representatives of the Black Sea Basin Directorate. During the inspections of the beach areas, the experts found numerous fuel oil pellets washed up by the sea. The Regional Inspectorate of Environment and Water - Burgas issued orders to the concessionaires of the affected beaches and to the relevant municipalities to organize an immediate clean-up of the beach areas.

Experts from the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water – Varna, the Black Sea Basin Directorate, and the Regional Laboratory in Varna conducted an inspection following a report of oil pollution on the beach in the area of “Romantika” Beach in the Kamchia resort, Avren Municipality.

The inspection revealed that the sandy beach was contaminated with black, sticky particles of varying sizes and registered a faint odor characteristic of petroleum products, which had been washed ashore by the sea. The on-site inspection did not identify a coastal source of the contamination.

The Avren Municipality has been instructed to take the necessary steps to clean up the affected area.

Samples have been taken from the seawater in the area and will be tested for the presence of petroleum products, polychlorinated biphenyls, and volatile organic compounds. The results are expected to be ready by the middle of next week.

Preliminary data suggest that the pollution may be related to the activities of vessels. The Executive Agency “Maritime Administration” has been notified of the reports in order to take appropriate action to identify the potential sources of the pollution.

The Ministry of Environment and Water and its regional offices continue to monitor the affected areas and will inform the public of the results of the inspections and laboratory analyses.