1. UNIVERSIDADE DO PORTO, FACULDADE DE ECONOMIA
BLACK SEA POLLUTION
AND
THE PROTECTION AGAINST THIS POLLUTION
SUBMITTED TO : MARIA CRISTINA GUIMARÃES GUERREIRO CHAVES
SUBMITTED BY : 060400009 Meltem Lale ÜNAL
060400010 Aybars YÜCESOY
060400016 Tuğça AKGÖZ

2. ABSTRACT
The Black Sea, being the one of the world’s largest inland water with an area of 420 000
km2, has a significant importance for bordered countries such as: Turkey, Bulgaria,
Georgia, Romania, Russia and Ukraine.
For two decades, the Black Sea is face of with a big threat of pollution. The Sea being
under danger of air and marine pollution, also threats the ecosystem and people’s health.
In our work, we wanted to specify the importance of the Black Sea for bordered
countries, the pollution of the sea and the protection against to this pollution.
According to our aim, in Chapter 2, we talked about the causes of the Black Sea Pollution
which we can generally observe in three parts: toxic substances, radioactive substances
and chemical pollution.
Next Chapter, we introduced to the effects of the pollution to economy. The main
problems appear with oil transports. An increase in this traffic of oil will put further
environmental pressures on the Black Sea. The other consequences of this pollution can
be categorized by health diseases, its effects on the Black Sea’s fisheries, its effects on
tourism and creation of new industries that we deal with more on Chapter 3.
There are some movements to stop this pollution and protect the Black Sea against this
pollution. In Chapter 4, we mentioned to the agreements signed to protect the Black Sea.
Despite these agreements also there are a lot of projects on-going to protect the Black Sea
that we also mentioned in this chapter. Finally, Turkey having the largest border side of
the Black Sea also the strongest economy with the largest and most technologically
advanced in fishing support strongly these agreements against the pollution.
2

3. CONTENTS
1. Introduction....................................................................................................................4
2. The Causes of the Pollution..........................................................................................5
2.1. Toxic Substances.........................................................................................................5
2.2. Radioactive Pollution..................................................................................................6
2.3. Chemical Pollution.....................................................................................................7
3. Pollution’s Effect on Economy.....................................................................................9
3.1. Problems about Funding..........................................................................................10
3.2. Oil Exports’ Detrimental Effects on Black Sea Pollution.....................................11
Land, Thomas, (5/1/1999)...............................................................................................12
3.3 Health Diseases Caused from Pollution...................................................................14
3.4. Pollution’s Effects on Black Sea’s Fisheries...........................................................15
Land, Thomas, (5/1/1999) ..............................................................................................16
3.5. Black Sea Pollution and Tourism...........................................................................16
3.6. Pollution Creates New Industries............................................................................17
4. Agreements against the Pollution...............................................................................18
4.1. Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (1994) ...........18
4.2. Strategic Action Plan (1996) ...................................................................................20
4.3. The Black Sea Contingency Plan (2003) ................................................................20
4.4. Black Sea GIS (1996 & 2005 ) .................................................................................21
4.5. Turkey and Black Sea Protection............................................................................23
5. Conclusion....................................................................................................................24
3

4. 1. Introduction
The Black Sea is a natural inland water that is situated between Europe and Asia and is a
distant arm of the Atlantic Ocean connecting by the Mediterranean Sea. Six countries
share the Black Sea coast: Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russia, Turkey and Ukraine. The
lengths of their respective coastlines are: Bulgaria - 354 km, Georgia - 310 km, Romania
- 225 km, Russia - 800 km (including the Azov Sea), Turkey - 1329 km and Ukraine -
2782 km (including the Azov Sea). A population of about 16 million people inhabits the
coastal zones of the six countries.
Geographical characteristics of the Black Sea are; total area - 422 000 sq km (441 000 sq
km including the shallow Azov Sea), maximum depth - 2212 m, average depth - 1300 m,
volume - 540 000 cubic km, wave height up to 6 - 7 m, wave length up to 90 - 100 m,
tidal variations - 3 to 10 cm, average winter temperature of seawater - 4°C, average
summer temperature of seawater - 22-24°C. The largest rivers flowing into the Black Sea
are the Danube, the Dnieper, the Don, the Dniester, the Kuban, the Southern Bug, the
Rioni, the Kizil-Irmak and the Kamchia rivers.
It is connected to Mediterranean Sea only through by the Bosporus Channel which is 35-
km natural channel, as little as 40 m deep and 700 m wide in places. It leads to the Sea of
Marmara and then to the Aegean Sea through Dardanelles. Important point is that
connection point with Bosporus is so small that this complex natural system makes the
replenishment of seawater in the Black Sea very slow.
4

5. 2. The Causes of the Pollution
2.1. Toxic Substances
The Black Sea was known as one of the world's most productive ecosystems. And today
it has faced to be innihilated because of the human activities. “Eighty-five percent of
Black Sea marine life (including 20 of the sea's 26 commercial fish species) has become
extinct in the last 20 years. Severe eutrophication has resulted from heavy loads of
fertilizer and human waste being dumped into the sea. Heavy metals, petrochemicals,
pesticides, PCBs, and radioactive by-products pour into the Black Sea from a catchment
area--the territory drained by rivers that flow into it--spread over 21 countries with a
population of 171 million people”. 1 The problem in here is, Black Sea hasn’t got any
connection to oceans or big seas except the narrow Bosporus Strait that is connecting to
the Mediterranean, according to this, it has a very long retention time for toxins. “(140
years as compared to 1-4 years for the North Sea)”2
Pollutants, toxic metals, radionuclides, agrochemicals, comes from the atmosphere and
river discharges. “Increased nutrients caused an overproduction of phytoplankton, which
block the light reaching the sea grasses and algae. Industrial activity, mining, shipping,
and offshore oil and gas exploration caused the destruction of the sea. Urban areas
flushed untreated sewage; and poor planning destroyed much of the aesthetics of the
coastlines. Some countries dumped solid waste into the sea or onto wetlands. The
Chernobyl accident also aroused concern regarding radionuclides and their
bioaccumulation characteristics.”3 In the 1980s several jellyfish-like species accidentally
slipped into the Sea. The new species evolved, devouring fish eggs and other tiny animals
that small fish feed upon, and were multiplying at a monstrous rate.
1
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/1997/105-12/forum.html
2
http://www.ehponline.org/docs/1997/105-12/forum.html
3
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/UndpBook/black_sea.html
5

6. 2.2. Radioactive Pollution
“After the Chernobyl accident in 1986, the fallout radionuclides in Black Sea fish
samples were determined weekly and monthly for three years. The fish samples were
selected which can become products for human consumption like both the pelagic and
benthic species. High levels of total gamma activity (iodine- 131, ruthenium-106,
caesium- 134 and caesium-137) in fish samples were found in the range of 37 to 65
Bq/kg during May 1986. The total radioactivity levels in the fish samples gradually
decreased during the first three months. Thereafter, except for caesium- 137,
radionuclides attributed to the Chernobyl accident were not detected. The Chernobyl
radionuclides were also investigated in mussel, sea snail and macro-algae species after
the accident. The highest activities found for caesium- 134 and caesium-137 were
142Bq/kg and 289 Bq/kg dry weight in soft tissues of mussels during May and June
1986, respectively.” 4
(source: Pollution Research In Turkey Of The Marine Environment Black Sea Ecology )
As we can see from the results, the western part of the Black Sea’s Turkish region was
less contaminated than its eastern part. “These results confirm that the dominant
contribution to radioactive contamination in fish comes from natural radionuclides, and
the contribution of anthropogenic caesium-137 (from atmospheric nuclear-weapons
testing and the Chernobyl accident) is negligible These findings follow results of an
IAEA coordinated research programme from 1993-96 on the application of tracer
4
Sayhan Topcuoglu, Pollution Research In Turkey Of The Marine Environment Black Sea Ecology
6

7. techniques in studies of processes and pollution in the Black Sea. The programme
showed that concentrations of anthropogenic radionuclides in the Black Sea environment,
although considerably higher than in other parts of the world ocean, are such that no
significant radiological consequences can be expected for the public.” 5
2.3. Chemical Pollution
“Metals are introduced via rivers or direct discharge of industrial wastes into the Black
Sea. In addition, levels of heavy metals in the Black Sea are increased by oil pollution
and airborne contaminants. Moreover, the western Black Sea has been polluted by
chemical wastes in barrels dumped irresponsibly in the past by foreign ships. In one
study, the concentrations of many elements in airborne particles were found to be a factor
of two higher in the western part of the Black Sea compared to corresponding
concentrations in the eastern part. This study also showed that Europe is the dominant
source of anthropogenic metals in the Black Sea atmosphere. Despite rising concerns
over the Black Sea’s pollution with metals, no systematic data are available in the region
for evaluation or forming a database. At the same time, metal concentrations in various
fish species from the Black Sea during the period of 1987-89. The results showed that the
metal concentrations in macroalgae have gradually increased in Turkish coastal waters of
the Black Sea during the years investigated. On the other hand, the metal levels in Black
Sea fish have not changed during the past ten years. The results generally indicate that the
Turkish Black Sea coast is not eutrophic. In addition to this, the rate of eutrophication is
gradually increasing at industrial hot spots near sewage discharges. Studies further show
that microbial pollution is related to discharges of urban waste waters.” 6
5
Sayhan Topcuoglu, Pollution Research In Turkey Of The Marine Environment Black Sea Ecology
6
Sayhan Topcuoglu
7

8. Petroleum hydrocarbons are the most important contaminants in the Turkish Black Sea
marine environment . In the western Black Sea, Oil pollution was the main cause of the
ecological devolution observed during the period of 1970 and 1995 . According to marine
transportation, municipal releases, river streams and tanker ballast, oil fractions entered
the Black Sea from spill and discharges . According to this, many sea gulls and other bird
species died.
Petroleum hydrocarbons are affecting marine organisms negatively. Oil products at low
concentration can stop growth and decrease cell division of phytoplankton algae. They
can even cause death of the algae at high concentrations. “For these reasons, a food chain
(anchovy fish) in the Black Sea was severely degraded by 1995.”7
(source: Pollution Research In Turkey Of The Marine Environment Black Sea Ecology )
7
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Magazines/Bulletin/Bull424/article4.pdf
8

9. 3. Pollution’s Effect on Economy
“Pure, unpolluted water is an essential resource to the environmental balance of the
world. Water has life-giving properties which are crucial to the world's global ecosystem.
Water has also been used as a source and a means of trade for hundreds of years. In some
areas water transport is the only viable means available. In some areas of the world,
rivers and seas have become so polluted that ecosystems and the health of plants,
animals, and humans are threatened. Water pollution also inhibits trade by killing off fish
(an economic resource in some regions) and damaging the trade waters. In recent years,
many nations have realized the problem of sea and other water pollution. Some of these
nations are taking steps to control or clean up the polluted waters.” 8
For some nations there is no choice to not use the polluted water because they have only
one source and for the other countries fishing or harvesting of other sea animals may be
the main source of income. Sea water pollution destroys the habitats of many species of
fish and other animals. If sea water pollution continues at the current rate, serious disease
can be spread to humans and animals that are using this polluted water as a life source.
As a result, waterborne diseases of concern in the region include cholera, hepatitis A,
dysentery, and typhoid is seen as a factor of effects of pollution on human health. On the
other hand, fishing industries in many nations or the ability of nations to transport goods
will be damaged and at the end this cause bad effects on economy.
“Along with the first signs of the recovery of the Black Sea ecosystem, the economies of
the Black Sea coastal states in transition began to recover according to the
macroeconomic indicator. Of the border countries, Turkey has the strongest economy and
infrastructure, with the largest and most technologically advanced fishing fleet in the
Black Sea. Accession of Bulgaria, Romania and Turkey to the European Union and
transposition of the strict European legislation is also working to benefit the Black Sea
environment. Nowadays, funding is also collected from the EU, Netherlands, France,
Austria, Canada and Japan.” 9
8
Jennifer Dopp, TED Analysis Cases, Sea Water Pollution
9
Jennifer Dopp
9

10. 3.1. Problems about Funding
There are some problems to create an effective to funding and coordination of programs
to save the Black Sea because of the coastal countries’ economies are in disarray.
“The World Health Organization has provided training on monitoring and assessing
bathing water quality in Russia and Georgia, and responds to requests by individual
countries for advice and development of other specific water projects. Both Bartram and
Reilly emphasized that funding for future water treatment projects will not be channeled
through the traditional route from governments in developed countries to governments in
developing countries. Instead, capital will flow through the World Bank and other
investment sources to support private initiatives in fledgling market economies.”10
The riparian countries got support from the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
In 1991, a special fund was established and managed by United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the World
Bank, in order to launch environmental protection activities and develop a longer-term
Action Plan.
In 1993, The Black Sea Environment Programme (BSEP) was established as a three-year
initiative with US$ 9.3 million funding from GEF and collateral funding from the EU,
Netherlands, France, Austria, Canada and Japan.
“Scientific institutions in the region needed new facilities, know-how and quality control
mechanisms. Therefore, the BSEP pollution monitoring programmes encompassed both
targeted research and capacity-building. Among six priority activities pursued by BSEP,
two Pollution Monitoring programmes were established and a Working Party helped to
co-ordinate the first regional assessment of land-based sources of pollution. It also
teamed up with the World Health Organization (WHO) to conduct a regional survey of
beach and bathing water quality.”11
10
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/Ssp/black_sea.html
11
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/Ssp/black_sea.html
10

11. 3.2. Oil Exports’ Detrimental Effects on Black Sea Pollution
“Russia and Turkey are embroiled in a conflict over Black Sea shipping revenues from
oil exports from the Caspian to Western Europe. While Russia seeks to increase traffic
across the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits that connect the Black Sea to the
Mediterranean, Turkey would like to see it reduced. An increase in traffic, however, will
put further environmental pressures on the Black Sea, already one of the most polluted
bodies of water in the world. A $750 million development master plan for the Black Sea
will not only boost investment in many industries but will also address the issue of its
environmental degradation.” 12
A convention defining the liability of ship-owners in order to compensate the victims of
oil pollution and to meet the cost of ensuing spillage operations has already accepted by
Turkey. There is another problem between countries as connecting the lucrative oil
exports from the Caspian over Black Sea shipping revenues by the help of Russia to
Western Europe.
The World Bank announced that every year, ships bring some 45,000 tons of oil into the
Black Sea which is one the main reason to the pollution. Many Black Sea ports lack
reception facilities so that many ships discharge their ballast and bilge during loading and
unloading.
“Much of the westbound Black Sea oil traffic will pass through the Turkish straits, the
world's busiest and most dangerous waterways affected by fierce and unpredictable
currents. The Bosphorus is only 700 meters wide at its narrowest point and runs through
the city of Istanbul. Its waters are shared simultaneously by ships traveling in both
directions, in addition to ferries carrying a million passengers a day across the water. A
fully laden Istanbul commuter ferry recently collided with a freighter. There is an average
of 17 shipping accidents a year.” 13
12
Land, Thomas, Pollution and politics in the Black Sea, Contemporary Review (5/1/1999)
11

12. From Bosphorus and Dardanelles, at about 6,500 oil tankers and 50,000 other vessels,
whose 15 per cent of them carry hazardous cargo, pass through annually. In addition,
they are planning to increase the present volume of traffic by half when the Caspian
production fields of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Turkmenistan come on steam by 2010.
The Montreaux convention (1936) provides safe passage for commercial traffic free of
transit fees and other charges at all times except during war, so that Turkey cannot
prevent the international use of the straits because navigation through both the Bosphorus
and Dardanelles it is unrestricted under this convention. As much as, Turkey would
prefer the oil to be pumped from Baku in Azerbaijan to the Mediterranean port of Ceyhan
in order to reduce pressure on the straits and traffic in the Black Sea.
For centuries, the Turkish waters have been the key to Moscow's foreign policies as the
only sea route linking the Russian warm water ports with the outside world. Recently
Russia wants the bulk of the Caspian produce to be piped to its own Black Sea port of
Novorossiisk and transported by tankers through the Turkish straits to the Mediterranean
and the world markets. To reach this aim, Moscow is placing enormous economic as well
as diplomatic pressure on its oil-rich Caspian partners in the Commonwealth of
Independent States to support the scheme and secure for Russia the bulk of the transit
royalties. 14
In contrast to this situation, Turkey do not support high volume of tankers passing
through Black Sea because it would double the volume of traffic now passing through the
Bosphorus and it is clearly beyond the capacity of the straits.
“From the side of Russia, their dwindling energy export revenues already restricted by a
global decline in prices, so that they cannot afford to compromise. The importance is
their volume of economy is relied on remaining foreign exchange income to support a
bankrupt national economy.”15
13
Land, Thomas, (5/1/1999)
14
http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-54869154.html
15
Land, Thomas, (5/1/1999)
12

13. March 1994 was a disaster in the Bosphorus when two vessels collided, 29 seamen lost
their lives and 20,000 tonnes of oil was spilled as oil fires raged for four days. Turkey
introduced strictly delineated sea passages along the straits and compelled big ships to
employ local pilots on board. Since the introduction of tough new navigation rules, the
number of accidents in the straits has declined. Regardless to this, Russia and Bulgaria
still claim that this has unreasonably slowed down the traffic and reduced the capacity of
the waterways.
The conflicts are happened because every coastal country want to get the best profit from
the use of Black Sea without considering the pollution they bring about. Some of the
examples can be given as;16
* Romania is a neighbor country that advocating two proposals for a role in the Caspian
oil business from which it hopes to earn perhaps $40m a year.
* Georgia is expanding the cargo handling facilities of its Black Sea ports to supply the
international oil companies developing the Caspian production fields. Georgian ports are
already being used by both the Azerbaijan International Operating Company and a
consortium of Western energy companies developing an $8bn production field on the
Caspian. Poti's capacity is to be increased from 6m to 14m tonnes of dry cargo a year
within 18 months and to 40m tonnes a year afterwards. Georgia also hopes to use the port
for the export of Caspian oil.
* Constanta is the largest port in the Black Sea basin currently undergoing a massive,
$108m modernisation programme. The upgraded Midia oil refinery is located on the
coast near the Danube-Black Sea Canal. The Italian industrial group ENI is proposing to
build an oil pipeline linking Constanta with Trieste. There are also plans for the
construction of an oil-based liquefied gas terminal with an annual 1m-tonne capacity at
Constanta.
* Ukraine, which has 18 Black Sea ports backed by a good railway system and adequate
roads, is preparing to take part in the collective development programme in the hope of
16
Land, Thomas, (5/1/1999)
13

14. reducing its traditional economic dependence on Russia. The International Monetary
Fund has just raised $2.2bn for an economic stabilization and structural reform
programme there over the next three years, which will include the privatization of major
transport enterprises.
3.3 Health Diseases Caused from Pollution
The manager of water and wastes for the World Health Organization's Regional Office
for Europe, Jamie Bartram, said "I've got no doubt that in the present situation in the
Black Sea, water-related diseases are the number-one health concern”
“Nearly 10.5 million residents of the Black Sea coastal areas dump an estimated 57.1
million cubic meters per year of untreated sewage into the sea. Also coastal countries use
rivers to raw sewage from their countries upstream in a way that draining into the Black
Sea. As a result, Waterborne diseases of concern in the region include cholera, hepatitis
A, dysentery, and typhoid is seen as a factor of effects of pollution on human health.
Eutrophication can be reversed with the proper procedures, but other human health
17
threats are more difficult to handle.”
In addition to the direct danger, untreated sewage is also main reason to increases
eutrophication level in the Black Sea.
Untreated, or partially-treated, domestic sewage are source of phosphorus and nitrogen.
The phosphorus acted as water softeners to improve the cleaning action, on the other
hand, it cause algal to growth faster.
Algal growth so much and use high level of oxygen that cause oxygen depletion which
results in fish kills because they have not got enough oxygen. Also this algal covered the
surface of water which means less oxygen can get into water. In addition bad smell
increase, the water quality decrease and also water contains more parasites that cause
some diseases seen in both sea animals and humans.
17
Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 105, Number 12, December 1997
14

15. Tundi Agardy, senior director of the nonprofit Conservation International's coastal and
marine conservation program, claim that “ Eutrophication threatens human health. The
horizontal expansion of eutrophied areas farther and farther offshore compresses the
living zone for many species of marine organisms and leads to diseased fish. Anybody
who's eating filter feeders out of this system runs the risk of having problems with toxic
dinoflagellates."
GEF-BSEP (Global Environment Facility - Black Sea Environment Programme) analysis
includes land-based pollution sources in each coastal country and identifies “hot spots”
which are contributing to negative effects on human health, ecosystems, sustainability
and the economies.
Nicholas Ashford, professor of technology and policy at the Massachusetts Institute of
Technology in Cambridge, said "There's no reason that the palliatives [of] clean-water
treatment [for waterborne diseases] are going to solve the long-term drainage problems of
industrial chemicals," and noted “the dangers comes from northern”. He terms the name
of "northern" style because of the industrial development and followed by North America
and Europe.
The main point is to clarify out the measures to protect human health, such as protecting
groundwater from toxic substances and also the improvement of the prospects for species
and for their habitats.
The difficulty is that deciding which problems to take first and the effective steps to
decrease pollution and its detrimental effects on Human Health.
3.4. Pollution’s Effects on Black Sea’s Fisheries
Fishes are usually effected buy water pollution. More than 60 plant and animal species
essential to the Black Sea ecosystem, including dolphins and seals, are endangered or
nearly extinct. Wetland communities, home to over 2,000 species of plants, invertebrates,
amphibians, reptiles, birds and mammals, are also endangered.
15

16. “Overfishing has depleted the Sea’s fish. The annual catch value for the fishing industries
declined by at least US$ 300 million between the 1980s and 1990s.” 18
“Throughout the Black Sea region, the annual fish consumption per adult is
approximately 20 kilograms. The protection of human health thus is the first priority in
scientific research. The process of scientific investigation is no straightforward matter, as
environmental pollution and any associated health-related impacts are dependent on a
variety of mechanisms. To illustrate this fact, some results of tests in Turkey on marine
organisms have indicated low levels of a given pollutant. This result does not mean,
however, that the organism is environmentally safe, nor is it possible to say that it is a
safe product for human consumption without further detailed analysis to determine each
type of pollutant.”19
As a result of eutrophication process many fish kills, on the other hand the fishes that can
survive are unfit for human consumption. People are becoming more and more conscious
about the effects of eutrophication in their health so they do not want to eat the fishes
that were caught in the sea or lakes that has seen eutrophication so that “Many of the
Black Sea fishing fleets are idle, costing the industry some $240m a year in lost revenue
as well as some 150,000 jobs.” 20
3.5. Black Sea Pollution and Tourism
At the past, many visitors were drawn by the beauty of the Black Sea. But by 1990,
pollutions effects are becoming danger for both sea animals, people that use this water
and for the tourist that want to swim in it.
In the recent yeras, the Black Sea is used to be like the area that all coastal countries
pump their domestic sewage in it. This cause eutrophication that increases toxicity in the
18
http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/Ssp/black_sea.html
19
Sayhan Topcuoglu,
20
Land, Thomas, (5/1/1999)
16

17. Black Sea which is a threat to the health of people.
Conventional Water Management’s aim is to ensure a long-term, sufficient and secure
water supply for the state; to develop public policy whish promotes efficient use and
equitable distribution of water in an environmentally.
Insufficiently, Conventional Water Management Approach and the technologies applied
are not suitable for the coastal zones especially with tourist activities. The main reasons
are: 21
• sensitive environmental nature
• seasonal fluctuation of the population and the corresponding waste loads
This impact is even grater when the water scarcity is practiced during summer
season with a lot of tourist potential. Hence development and implementation of
technologies designed specifically for this purpose and for the local conditions are
needed. This will be managed by mainly closing the water cycle and by the
application of decentralized water management tolls
As a result, Black Sea water pollution has limited the options for coastal zones and tourist
areas which made negative effect on the economy on coastal country’s benefits from sea
tourism.
3.6. Pollution Creates New Industries
With the increase of water pollution rates, especially in industrialized nations, people
have a great need for clean, pure water. Companies who want to get advantage from this
bad situation can bottle "pure" water and sell it for a significant profit.. In addition, in the
industrialized nations, bottled mineral waters are also in high demand because this
nations citizens’ have the threat of drinking polluted water. So that sea water pollution
21
Jennifer Dopp, TED Analysis Cases, Sea Water Pollution Cases Analysis
17

18. can create industries for whom wants to take the advantage from pollutions detrimental
effects.
4. Agreements against the Pollution
4.1. Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution (1994)
With the participation of Black Seaboard Countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania,
Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine), in Bucharest, on 21.04.1992, was signed and
shortly ratified the “Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution”.
Ukraine ratified the Convention on 04.02.1994. This convention also named like the “
Bucharest Convention”. This Convention engage that the stop the pollution of marine
environment of Black Sea by the different elements having source from the land area of
Black Sea.
The convention also establishes a Commission with representatives from each country to
ensure its implementation. For its day to day work, the Commission will have a
Secretariat in Istanbul (Istanbul Commission)
“There are three specific Protocols which are:
 the control of land-based sources of pollution
 dumping of waste
 joint action in the case of accidents (such as oil spills) “22
The Convention aim to prevent, reduce, and control pollution in order to protect and
preserve the marine environment of the Black Sea.
22
http://www.blacksea-commission.org/OfficialDocuments/Convention_iframe.htm
18

19. After this development, the subject of the protection of Black Sea against pollution also
discussed in the “United Nations Conference on Environment and Development” in Rio
1992 with the propose of the Black Sea Countries.
With the participation of eleven countries which are Ukraine, Turkey, Russia, Romania,
Moldova, Greece, Georgia, Bulgaria, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Albania is signed the “
Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC) ” on 25 June 1992, in Istanbul. In April 2004,
Serbia and Montenegro also participated and the number of members of the Cooperation
increased to twelve.
“It came into existence as a unique and promising model of multilateral political and
economic initiative aimed at fostering interaction and harmony among the Member
States, as well as to ensure peace, stability and prosperity encouraging friendly and good-
neighbourly relations in the Black Sea region.”23
After Rio’92, a lot of national and international projects began under the chairmanship of
the “Black Sea Economic Cooperation”. In April 1993, in Odessa, with participation of
the presidents of environment of six countries, a declaration of a common policy
(Declaration of Odessa) has been published. In this declaration, all the sectors have been
called to participate common actions having aim to save and protect the Black sea against
pollution.
In June 1993, the governments of the six countries demanded that the Program of
Environmental Protection of the Black Sea to be supported. The Program is making
actions to furnish the international support to facilitate the common initiatives of the
Black Sea countries to prevent to lose more the natural resources of the Black Sea. With
this aim, the Strategic Action plan have been prepared and offered to be signed ( 30 June
1996) .
23
www.tubitak.com.tr
19

20. 4.2. Strategic Action Plan (1996)
With the participation of the Environmental Ministers of six Black sea countries. on 31
October 1996, “ The Strategic Action Plan to Ameliorate and Protect the Black Sea” is
signed in Istanbul.
This Plan aim to try to minimize and remove the danger that the million of people who
live in Black sea environment are up against. According to the Plan, each of these six
countries would prepare their national strategic action plan and constitute and try to
contribute to remove the problems of this common life area.
The Black Sea ecosystem continues to be threatened by inputs of certain pollutants,
notably nutrients also Iiputs of insufficiently treated sewage result in the presence of
microbiological contaminants, which constitute a threat to public health and in some
cases pose a barrier to the development of sustainable tourism and aquaculture. Inputs of
other harmful substances, and especially oil, continue to threaten the Black Sea
ecosystem.
So the priority activities are set for six countries on the Black seaboard in sustainable use
of the Black sea resources and conservation of its ecosystems.
“The Black Sea Action Plan focuses on three major issues :
• control pollution,
• conserve and restore marine and coastal ecosystems,
• use the coastal areas in a way which does not compromise their use by future
generations. “24
4.3. The Black Sea Contingency Plan (2003)
24
http://www.undp.org/gef/new/blacksea.htm
20

21. In October 2003, The Black sea Contingency Plan was signed by Bulgaria, Turkey and
Romania.
The Convention aimed to protect the Black Sea from one of the biggest threat that the
Black Sea marin environment face with which is oil pollution and oil spills.
“Black Sea Contingency Plan includes two volumes which are :
 Volume 1: Response to Oil Spills
 Volume 2: Response to Harmful Substances”25
As the solution of the Plan, the transportation of harmful substances other than oil
in the Black Sea Area is limited even if an increase has been registered during the last
few years.
4.4. Black Sea GIS (1996 & 2005 )
After development of first electronic maps and digital image processing in 1950s, the use
of GIS technologies also began for environmental management.
GIS (Geographic Information System) was important for environmental resource
management. The applications did before showed how too much different variety could
be presented too clear and easy.
.
The Black Sea Geographic Information System was created to be useful for governments,
for students, for scientists also for the general public. The System can facilitate the
planning of marine environment activities and influences on a regional area. Also it aims
25
http://www.blacksea-commission.org/Publications/SavingTheBS/08/EN/7.htm
21

22. the conscience of the public through education, workshops. The System also facilitates
scientific analysis, science planning and modeling.
By the result of the GIS, created 2000 maps individuals and layers which give
informationto scientists, policy-makers, students of the diversity of data about Black Sea
region.
4.4.1. Black Sea GIS ( 1996)
“The 1st Phase of the Black Sea Environmental Programme in the 90’s developed the
basis of a GIS system of the Black Sea. Available administrative, topographic,
hydrologic, geology etc. maps of the Black Sea were digitized.
Proprietary file formats for storing of the map data and an application for graphical
presentation, carrying out of basic operations such as overlay of layers, presentation of
averages, minimum, maximum etc. values within a time period were developed. “26
4.4.2. Black Sea GIS – 2005
“With the start of operation of the Permanent Secretariat in 2000 priority was given to the
institutional strengthening of the newly operational unit and to the development of an
information system to meet the needs of the Commission on the Protection of the Black
Sea Against Pollution.
To this end funding was mobilized from the GEF UNDP Black Sea Ecosystems
Recovery Project (Phase 1) for development of the necessary software, templates and
information flow mechanisms for national reporting of the Black Sea countries.”27
26
http://www.blacksea-commission.org/Publications/SavingTheBS/08/EN/9.htm
27
http://www.blacksea-commission.org/Publications/SavingTheBS/08/EN/9.htm
22

23. 4.5. Turkey and Black Sea Protection
Turkey is one of countries who engage strongly the studies to protect Black Sea. There
are a lot of environmental, healty and aconomic motivations and reasons that Black Sea is
indispensable for Turkey.
First of all, Black Sea has coast length more than 4000 kilometers and 1400 kilometers
are Turkey’s borders. Black sea is the richest fish source of Turkey. More than fish
production from Black Sea of Turkey is 454 to 500 thousand tones annually .
Also, now Turkey is candidating to be a member of European Union, besides the
country’s economic growth, the country need to increase its environmentral
considerations into account.
Besides all the agreements that we talked before which Turkey strongly keep membership
and responsability, there also some movements to protect Black Sea in Turkey.
The most important danger that Turkey is face to concerning Black Sea are petroleum
hydrocarbons. During the period 1970-1995, the oil pollution was the most important
danger for Black Sea ecosystem. With marine transport, Oil fractions or crude oils
entrered to Black Sea and caused the die of many sea gulls and other bird species.
The transport of high volume of oil by tankers by Bosphorus and the risk of tanker
accidents cause a big risk to marine environment. After the big damage in 1994, so the
collusiton of Greek Cypriot tanker Nassia with another ship which caused to kill 30
seamen by spilling 20,000 tons of oil, Turkey passed some regulations about the transport
of ships carrying hazardous materials to report to the Turkish environmental protection
ministry.
Also there are many scientifiques laboratories which make research about pollutants of
Black Sea and find solutions. Like university laboratories or independant laboratories like
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24. for exemple Radioecology Laboratory of Çekmece Nuclear Research and Training Center
(ÇNAEM) , which determine the sensitivity to pollutants of human populations and
marine organisms.
Also the chemical pollution has a big risk to Black Sea marine environment. By the
industrial wasts or by rivers, metals are entering to Black Sea. ÇNAEM and the Marine
Science Institute of Istanbul University have started a collaborative study on the metal
levels of the Black Sea marine environment since 1988. The projets aims to determine
the concentration of metal level in macro-algae systematiacally and consider seasonal and
sampling site variability.
We know that today’s more risky problem for marine environment is eutrophication
especially in Mediterainnean Sea. But we can say that, considering the results, the
Turkish Black Sea coast is not eutrophic. But unfortunatly, the rates of eutrophication is
increasing.
5. Conclusion
The Black Sea was the world's most productive and longest-exploited ecosystems before
the human beings have polluted it for the years. After decades of damage the Black Sea
become the world’s most polluted parts of water and despite the agreements to prevent,
reduce and control the pollution, it is still in trouble. The rates of eutrophication is
increasing, pollution affects biological environment.
For coastal countries, The Black Sea is very important for their tourism and for the
income source of fishing. This pollution also threats these countries’ economies. On the
other hand, it is more important that, the pollution effects on human health and disease
like Waterborne diseases spread among the people , living coastal countries, who has no
other choice to not use that polluted water or feed from the fishes caught in the Black sea.
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25. All the responsibility to protect Black Sea have to share equally among the six Black Sea
surrounding countries - Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and
the Ukraine- ,as well as, it is interested also 17 countries comprising the Black Sea basin,
which nearly reach 170 million population.
Many commitments are made by governments of Black Sea countries. Their aim is bring
the environment conditions of Black Sea back to those in 1960s. Despite all the
agreements and continuing projects it seems that the process of recovering Black Sea will
take a long time.
REFERANCES
• Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 105, Number 12, December 1997
• Environment By, Jaea Bulletin (42, 4/2000)
• Jennifer Dopp, TED Analysis Cases, Sea Water Pollution Cases Analysis
• Land, Thomas, Pollution and politics in the Black Sea, Contemporary Review
(5/1/1999)
• Sayhan Topcuoglu, Pollution Research In Turkey Of The Marine Environment
Black Sea Ecology (42, 4/2000)
• http://www.iaea.org/Publications/Booklets/Ssp/black_sea.html
Last Access : 31.05.2007
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26. • http://blacksea-commission.org/main.htm
Last Access : 31.05.2007
• http://www.blacksea-commission.org/Publications/SavingTheBS/08/EN/9.htm Last Access :
31.05.2007
• http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G1-54869154.html
Last Access: 31.05.2007
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