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Simion Nicolaev and Alexandru S. Bologa

National Institute for Marine Research & Development"Grigore Antipa"

RO-900581 Constanta 3, RomaniaE-mail: <abologa@alpha.rmri.ro>

BLACK SEA ECOSYSTEM RESEARCH, ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MONITORING, REGIONAL CO-OPERATION: ROMANIAN INVOLVEMENTS AND ACHIEVEMENTS

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Major international documents stressing NEED for long-term sustainability ofmarine environments and resources

UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)

UNCLOS Report The marine environment. Are we destroying the Oceans ?

“the state of the world’s ocean continues to deteriorate”

- destruction of marine environments- pollution- over-exploitation of non-living and living resources

AGENDA 21 (Rio de Janeiro, 1992)

Johannesburg Summit Report (2002)

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Other major international reference documents(Cont'n)

Washington Declaration on the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities

Global Programme of Action for the Protection of the Marine Environment from Land-based Activities (GPA)

International Convention on Biodiversity

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GLOBAL ENVIRONMENT FACILITY (GEF)

UNEPUNDPWORLD BANK

establishing ecosystem-based priorities for transboundary issues

- Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA)

- Strategic Action Plans (SAP)

- Large Marine Ecosystems (LMEs)

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The Black Sea and its coastal states

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THE BLACK SEA

"unicum hydrobiologicum"

"The problems of the Black Sea are not so differentas elsewhere, but they are more obvious, in part ofisolated, contained nature of the Black Sea"

Dr. Jane Lubchenko, 1998

Grigore Antipa (1867 - 1944)

Nikolay M. Knipovich (1862 - 1939)

“... the Black Sea, because of entirely different conditions from those prevailing

in other seas, represents a real natural laboratory ...”

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MAJOR CONTEMPORARY ENVIRONMENTALCONSTRAINTS / PRIORITIES OF THE BLACK SEA

No 62 on LMEs map of World and Linked Watersheds (cf. Damon, 2002)

most endangered semi-enclosed continental sea (GEF, 1992) dramatic environmental changes !

(five times larger drainage system, economic activitiesof <165 million people, 17 Danubian & Black Sea coastal states)

- coastal erosion- pollution / eutrophication- decline of biodiversity- loss of living resources- degradation of landscapes

need for:- ICZM- compliance with EU provisions / requirements

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The Danube - Black Sea Chilia - Bystroe shipping channel

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MARINE ENVIRONMENT QUALITY

MONITORING

INTEGRATED MONITORING

Necessity:

MACROECOSYSTEMIC (Danube - Danube Delta - Black Sea)

NATIONAL (e. g. Romania)

REGIONAL (Black Sea)

EU (Water Framework Directive etc)

PARAMETRES

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UNCLOS / Law of the Sea Convention + Agenda 21

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change

Convention on Biological Diversity

FAO Code of Conduct for Responsible Fisheries

Stradding Stocks Agreement

Global Programme of Action (GPA) for the Protection of Marine Environment from Land-Based Activities

Integrated Maritime Enforcement

National Integrated Maritime Enforcement

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climate change global warming + sea level rise coastal erosion pollution* decline of biodiversity & living resources

* marine pollution:- atmosphere- land-based sources (vast drainage areas of rivers and streams)

(contaminated) sediments havy metals nutrients radionuclides persistent organic substances petroleum hydrocarbons litter sewage

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Black Sea

severe ecological disequilibrium

“The state of the Black Sea environment continues to be a matter of concern due to theongoing degrada-tion of its ecosystem and the unsustainable use of its natural resources”

(Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea, 1996)

chemical, oil, bacterial & biological* pollution* (harmful) exotic species

Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) / 1992

Odessa Declaration / 1993

Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea, Istanbul / 1996

Ministerial Declaration, Monaco / 1998

International Convention for the Protection of the Danube River (13 riparian countries) / 1994

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GEF / Black Sea + Danube conventions

- increase countries capacity of monitoring specific ecosystems and assess effects of pollution

- identify and assess main land-based (point and non-point) pollution sources

- develop Transboundary Diagnostic Analyses (TDA)

- develop / approve Strategic Action Plans (Black Sea + Danube)

- identify and develop investment portfolios

inventory and assessment of land-based pollution sources

Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (1997)

Black Sea Pollution Assessment (Mee & Topping, 1998)

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cf. Bucharest Convention (1992)

<pollution of the marine environment>:

“... introduction by man, directly or indirectly ofsubstances or energy into the marine environment, includingestuaries, which results or is likely to result in such deleteriouseffects as harm to living resources and marine life, hazard tohuman health hindrance to marine activities, including fishingand other legitimate uses of the sea, impairment of quality foruse of sea water and reduction of amenities.”

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GEF / Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP)

Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea (1996)

Assessment and Monitoring of Pollutants:54. “A Black Sea Monitoring System based upon biological effect

measurements and measurements of key contaminants, will beestablished in compliance with the Bucharest Convention It will consist ofthe integration of obligatory national monitoring programmes, to beincluded in the National Strategic Action Plans, and an independentquality assurance system. It is advised that the Istanbul Commissiondevelop such a quality assurance system through its Advisory Group onPollution Monitoring and Assessment, by 1998”

+ EU environment legislation / Directives

e.g. for monitoring and assessment / protection of marine waters (transitionaland coastal), bathing waters, shellfish waters

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NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR MARINERESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

“GRIGORE ANTIPA”

(1) Fundamental, applied and technological research on generaloceanography, ecology and marine environment protection as well asmanagement of living resources from the Black Sea and other oceanic areasin order to comply to the national and international interest in the Black SeaExclusive Economic Zone (about 24,000 km2) and to fulfill the Romaniancommitment as signatory part to international conventions

(2) National Institute for Marine Research and Development "GrigoreAntipa" is the technical operator of the national network for physical,chemical and biological monitoring of national marine and coastal watersand of surveillance of coastal erosion, entitled to submit to the Ministry ofWaters and Environment Protection proposals for marine environmentalregulations

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Romania

NIMRD “GRIGORE ANTIPA” (former RMRI)

National Integrated Monitoring System (1975)

- nutrients (N, P, Si)- heavy metals (Mn, Fe, Cu, Cd, Pb)- artificial radionuclides (Sr-90, Cs-134, Cs-137)- total hydrocarbons- parasite & saprophyte fungi

emerged / submerged sediments sea water biota

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INCDM ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY MONITORING

– physical, chemical, biological –

wind, currents, transparency

pH, temperature, salinity, dissolved O2 / saturability, BOD5, TOC macronutrients:

N (total, NO3, NO2, NH4)P (total, PO4)Si (SiO4)

total suspended solids heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, Pb, Cd) radionuclides (natural, 137Cs) organic matter organochlorurated pesticides hydrocarbons (total, polyaromatic)

macrophytobenthos (B) macrozoobenthos (B, D) phytoplankton (B, D) chlorophyll a zooplankton (B, D) bacterial indicators of organic and phaecal pollution:

total coliformsphaecal coliformsphaecal streptococci

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Concept of monitoring strategy

integrated environmental quality monitoring

4 categories of parameters:

- physical (transparency, temperature, pH, suspended matter)

- chemicalsediments (heavy metals, persistant organic pollutants,

pesticides, PCB, oil, radionuclides)seawater (salinity, dissolved O2, BOD, N-NO2, NO3, NH4, P-PO4,

P-organic, SiO4, TOC, oil, radionuclides)biota (heavy metals, persistent organic pollutants, radionuclides)

- biological & microbiological (zoobenthos, chlorophyll a, phytoplankton, faecal coliforms)

- biomarkers (specific markers, toxicity tests) GEF / BSEP quality objectives

database / end-users

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Objectives of NIMS

assessment of state of health of Black Sea ecosystem

assessment of evolution trends of marine environment quality

preparation of policies and measures of protection and rehabilitation

estimate of effect and efficiency of protection measures

check of respecting and framing in standards, agreements and permits issued by environmental authorities

fullfilment of government obligations from international programmes and conventions where Romania is signatory or participating

adaptation to EU legislation

INCDM BLACK SEA CONVENTIONS / DECLARATIONS /AGREEMENTS

Black Sea Fishery Convention (1958) Convention on the Protection for the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) (1992) Odessa Declaration (1993) Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea / Istanbul (1996) Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area - ACCOBAMS

(Monaco, 1996) Ministerial Declaration / Monaco (1998) Declaration of Sofia Ministerial Conference (2002) Convention on the Fisheries and Management of Black Sea Living Resources (under preparation)

+ Convention for the Protection of the Danube River

INCDM PROGRESS IN BLACK SEA ECOSYSTEMRESEARCH / MONITORING / MANAGEMENT

RESEARCH (e.g.) CoMSBlack NATO (CCMS, SfS, SfP) EC EROS 2000 / 21 UNESCO / IOC Black Sea Regional Centre IOC / GLOSS, MedGLOSS, Mussel Watch IAEA / RER EC / FP5 “Management in the Danube Basin and its Impact on the Black Sea (DANUBS)” F. Gable “The Black Sea: An environmental and ecological profile” (Ocean Yearbook, 14, 2000) A.S. Bologa “Recent changes in the Black Sea ecosystem” (Ocean Yearbook, 15, 2001)

MONITORING (e.g.) EC PHARE (Bulgaria, Romania) EC TACIS (Georgia, Russia, Ukraine) CIESM / Monaco (in preparation)

MANAGEMENT / PROTECTION (e.g.) GEF / BSEP, BSERP EC / ECOS OUVERTURE – QUALIPOL NATO / CCMS, INCOM UNOPS / coastal states GPA

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BLACK SEA CO-OPERATION AND INSTITUTIONALINFRASTRUCTURE

CIESM, IOC, UNEP, UNDP, FAO, NATO, CECAF, IAEA, IMO, ESRB, IUHPS

Commission on the Convention for the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Black Sea Commission)

Permanent Secretariat of the Commission (Istanbul, 2000)

GEF / Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP)

Programme Implementation Unit (of BSEP)Advisory Groups (6)Ad Hoc Working Group on Water Framework Directive (WFD)

Activity Centres + National Focal Points(1) Development of Common Methodologies for Integrated Coastal Zone Management(2) Pollution Monitoring Assessment(3) Control of Pollution from Land Based Sources(4) Conservation of Biological Diversity(5) Environmental Aspects of Fisheries and Other Living Resources Management(6) Environmental Safety Aspects of Shipping

International Centre on Water Research in the BSEC region (Kiev / Ukraine)

International Centre for Black Sea Studies (Athens / Greece)

IOI – Black Sea Operational Centre (Constanta / Romania) + Affiliated Centre Ukraine (Sevastopol)

IOC – Regional Black Sea Centre (Varna / Bulgaria)

MEDCOAST (Ankara / Turkey)

Balkan Environmental Association (Thessaloniki / Greece)

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JOINT BLACK SEA OUTPUTS / REFERENCES

Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP) (1993)

Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (GEF / 1997)

Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS-SAP) (Istanbul / 1996-1997)

+ National Black Sea Action Plans

Black Sea Pollution Assessment (Mee & Topping / 1998)

Environmental Degradation of the Black Sea: Challenges and Remedies (Besiktepe, Űnlűata & Bologa / 1999)

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INCDM MORE RECENT BLACK SEA RELATED ORGANIZATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Strategic Partnership Approach (GEF / Black Sea + Danube River Basin / 2001)

2 regional capacity–building projects aiming at nutrient reduction

Partnership Investment Facility

new project “Control of Eutrophication, Hazardous Substances and related Measures for Rehabilitating the Black Sea Ecosystem. Phase 1” (Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project)

EC / Communiqué

EC / Declaration on Water and Waterrelated Ecosystems in the Wider Danube and Black Sea (DABLAS) Task Force

BSC + ICPDR

EC / Water Framework Directive

e.g. marine (transitional and coastal) water quality control, bathing waters, shellfish waters

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COMPLETED AND RUNNING BLACK SEA RELATEDPOLLUTION / MONITORING / NETWORKING PROJECTS

European sea level system (ESEAS)

Nutrient management in the Danube basin and its impact on the Black Sea (DANUBS)

Mediterranean and Black Sea Mussel Watch (MED-WATCH)

Conservation of dolphins in Romanian waters of the Black Sea (LIFE NATURA)

A regional capacity building and networking programme to upgrade monitoring and forecasting activity in the Black Sea basin (ARENA)

A Pan-European network for ocean and marine data and information management (SEA-SEARCH)

International action for sustainability of the Mediterranean and Black Sea environment (IASON)

European lifestyles and marine ecosystems (ELME)

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IDEAS FOR NEW BLACK SEA RELATED PROJECTSCONCERNING ECOLOGICAL / ENVIRONMENTAL

PROBLEMS

Coastal state and dynamics (COSTAS)

A supporting programme for capacity building in the Black Sea region towards operational status of oceanographic services (ASCABOS)

Black Sea Scientific Network (SCENE)

Science and policy integration for coastal ecosystem sustainability (SPICES)

Improvement of the scientific background for assuring sustainable development in the Black Sea coastal zone (MARINA) / NIMRD

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ROMANIAN / NIMRD COMMITMENTS TO ASSESSMENTOF BLACK SEA ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES

elaboration of Annual report on the state of marine and coastal environment (chapter 4 of National “Report on the state ofenvironmental factors in Romania” with reference to EU decisional indicators / state, pressure, impact, response since2004)

contribution to Management Plan of the Danube River, Danube Delta, hydrographic basin of Dobrudzha and coastal waters(under co-ordination of National Administration “Romanian Waters”)

elaboration of ICZM related technical-juridical documents (mainly to Ministry of Waters and Environmental Protection) National Action Plan for dolphin conservation in coastal waters biological component of National Action Plan to minimize the transfer of harmful marine and pathogene organisms in

ships ballast water for the Black Sea region implementation of EU Directives (WFD, Bathing Waters, Habitats, Shellfish) implication in assessment of consequences / effects of Chilia – Bystroe Danube – Black Sea shipping channel custody of Marine Reserve 2 Mai – Vama Veche Vice-presidency of the Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous

Atlantic Area (ACCOBAMS)

residence of: Romanian National Committee of Oceanography (National Commission of Romania to UNESCO) Permanent Technical Secretariat of National Coastal Zone Committee GEF / Black Sea Environmental Programme

- Black Sea Regional Activity Centre of Environ-mental Aspects of Fisheries and Other Marine LivingResources Management- 5 National focal points

Balkan Environmental Association- International Secretariat of South-East Europe- International Training Centre of Environmental Professions

IOI – Black Sea Operational Centre (until 2004)

representation of Romania at UNESCO/IOC, CIESM, FAO, CGPM, CECAF, ICES, ACCOBAMS, a.o. internationalbodies

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CONCLUSIONS

(1) Black Sea ecosystem still in advanced state of ecological disequilibrium

(2) Better knowledge of recent changes in Black Sea ecosystem and appropiate management of living resources

(3) Strong need for adequate policies regarding Black Sea environmental monitoring and protection

(4) Need for harmonization of National Black Sea monitoring programmes (according to presently gained / shared experience)

(5) Positive achievements in regional co-operation by successfull joint Black Sea related research, monitoring and management projects / programmes

(6) Need for continuing regional co-operation, including Danube riparian countries and international expertise

(7) Need for exchange of environmental data and development of regional databases and networks for scientific use, decision makers and end users

THANK YOU

AND

WELCOME TO THE BLACK SEA

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