31 OCTOBER INTERNATIONAL BLACK SEA DAY ACTIVITIES
(Odessa, Ukraine)
International Black Sea Day 2011 was celebrated on 31st October in Odessa, Ukraine, aiming to be a back-to-back event with the 3rd Biannual Black Sea Scientific Conference.
It was organized by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine together with the Permanent Secretariat of the Black Sea Commission.
Representatives of the Black Sea Commission, European Commission, UNDP, Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine, Odessa Regional State Administration,
Odessa Council, scientists, students, NGOs and mass media took part in the activities.
Welcome remarks were given by the representative of Odessa Regional State Administration, Executive Director of the Permanent Secretariat of the
Black Sea Commission and Ukrainian Commissioner to the Black Sea Commission.
ROUND TABLE
The main part of the activities was the round table meeting (download program), which included presentations of the representatives of the European Commission,
Black Sea Commission, international and Ukrainian organizations on Black Sea environmental protection achievements, challenges and needs.
Participants of the round table discussed current status of the biological resources; influence of river inflow on the continental shelf;
cooperation between Black Sea countries in the field of environment protection and contribution of the EC and GEF;
use of European standards for the quality assessment of sea waters;
availability of ecological information to the public, and public participation in marine environment protection.
Following presentations from the Black Sea Day round table are available for download:
BLACK SEA MEDALS AWARD CEREMONY
After the round table discussions, the Black Sea Medals award ceremony took place. The medalists (one from each Black Sea country) were nominated by the Black Sea Commission:
- Dr. Snejana Moncheva, Assistant professor and Deputy Director of the Institute of Oceanology, Varna, Bulgaria and very well known scientist from the region was awarded for her valuable contribution in the field of marine ecology and understanding of environmental processes that occur in the Black Sea.
- Dr. Mamuka Gvilava, ICZM focal point for Georgia, currently working with GIS & RS Consulting Centre "GeoGraphic", Tbilisi, Georgia, was awarded for his effort in the field of marine and coastal zone management in Georgia and active involvement in promoting an efficient ICZM process in the Black Sea region.
- Mr. Radu Mihnea, scientist and former head of Ocenography department, National Institute for Marine Research and Development Constanta, Romania, former PMA focal point for Romania, presently retired, was awarded for his important contribution over many years for the Black Sea environmental protection. He was member of Romanian delegation for the negotiations of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution; designed and implemented the Monitoring Program of Romanian marine waters.
- Dr. Natalia Kutaeva, Head of the Maritime Environment Pollution Protection Division, Ministry of Transport Moscow, Russian Federation, and head of Russian delegation to the ESAS AG meetings, was awarded for her contribution in the implementation of the national environmental legislation as well as international obligation in the marine environment protection by the maritime transport organizations.
- Prof. Dr. Ahmet E. Kideys, presently working in the Institute of Marine Sciences of the Middle East Technical University in Erdemli, Turkey, was awarded for his contribution to the activities of the Black Sea Commission when he worked at the Permanent Secretariat as the Executive Director in 2007 - 2011.
- Mr. Victor Karamushka, Associated Professor, Head of Department of Project Management in University of Educational Management, Kiev, Ukraine, was awarded for his active involvement and contribution to the implementation of international programs and projects and to the development of important international legal acts in the field of Black Sea environment protection.
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Four of the Black Sea medallists (from left to right: Radu Mihnea - Romania, Snejana Moncheva - Bulgaria, Victor Karamushka - Ukraine and Ahmet Kideys - Turkey) present at the award ceremony, Odessa, Ukraine
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The award ceremony followed by a concert given to the participants by the students of Odessa State Ecological University, and the activity ended with a cocktail party.
CONCLUSIONS
Following recommendations and proposals have been made as result of the discussions carried out in the round table:
- Black Sea Commission to approve the establishing of a working group for a common scientific research plan/program for the Black Sea countries.
- Ukraine and Turkey, as countries with the longest coastline should develop a common methodology to assess the impact of the economic activities developed on coast on the sea.
- Catch limit for fisheries to be agreed between Black Sea states and approved by the Black Sea Commission.
- Joint position of the Black Sea countries on the marine protected areas designation and networking.
- Modelling of natural processes dynamics used for decision-making.
