Desiring to rehabilitate and protect the Black Sea, the Governments of:
Bulgaria
Georgia
Romania
The Russian Federation
Turkey, and
Ukraine
Recalling the provisions and the principles of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution, together with its constituent Protocols, signed in Bucharest on 21 April 1992;
Also recalling that the preparation of the strategic action plan was called for in Resolution 3, adopted at the Diplomatic Conference on the Protection of the Black Sea, Bucharest, April 21-22, 1992;
Noting also the Declaration on the Protection of the Black Sea signed in Odessa on 7 April 1993 and the Declaration on the Protection of the Black Sea signed in Sofia on 14 June 2002;
Appreciating that progress has been made towards attaining sustainable development in the Black Sea region through, amongst other things, the actions taken within the Black Sea Environmental Project (BSEP) and the Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project (BSERP) and other interventions supported implementation of the Bucharest Convention and the Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea, signed in Istanbul on 31 October 1996, amended 2002;
Reiterating that conservation, protection of biodiversity and habitats, reduction of eutrophication, increasing environmental safety aspects of shipping and other improvements in water quality are primary areas for transboundary cooperation;
Wishing to continue in the spirit of shared responsibility and strong cooperation, inter alia, with other Black Sea basin countries;
Reaffirming our commitment to the environmental protection and sustainable management of the Black Sea;
Approves the principles, policies and actions as expressed in the following Strategic Action Plan for Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea.
This document represents an agreement between the six Black Sea Coastal states (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, the Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) to act in concert to assist in the continued recovery of the Black Sea. The document provides a brief overview of the current status of the Sea, based largely on information contained within the 2007 Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (BS TDA), and taking into account progress with achieving the aims of the original (1996) Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS SAP). This SAP builds upon BS SAP signed in 1996 (updated in 2002), by reorganising the priorities and actions therein considering the progress in the region and the current state of the environment.
This updated (2009) version of the BS SAP describes the policy actions required to meet the major environmental challenges now facing the Sea, and includes a series of management targets.
The Black Sea is one of the most remarkable regional seas in the world. It is almost cut off from the rest of the world’s seas, is over 2200 m deep and receives the drainage from a 1.9 million km2 basin covering about one third of the area of continental Europe. Its only connection to the world’s oceans is through the Istanbul Strait, a 35 km natural channel, as little as 40 m deep in places. This channel has a two layer flow, carrying about 300 km3 of seawater to the Black Sea from the Mediterranean along the bottom layer and returning a mixture of seawater and freshwater with twice this volume in the upper layer.
Every year, about 350 km3 of river water enters the Black Sea from land in over twenty countries: Albania, Austria, Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Moldova, Montenegro, Poland, Romania, the Russian Federation, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Turkey and Ukraine. Europe’s second, third, fourth and sixth largest rivers the Danube, Dnipro, Don (indirectly via the Sea of Azov) and Dniester all flow to the Black Sea.
The signing of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) in 1992, followed closely by the first Black Sea Ministerial Declaration (the Odessa Declaration) in 1993 inspired the GEF, to support the region in implementing the Odessa Declaration and to formulate the longer-term Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS SAP).
Following the signature of the BS SAP, GEF funding was sustained in order to enable countries to complete National Black Sea Strategic Action Plans and for the negotiations on the institutionalisation of the Istanbul Commission’s Secretariat to be completed. Progress was made in implementation of existing BSSAP, with the GEF, EC and other donors’ assistance. In October 2000, the Secretariat for the Black Sea Commission became operational.
The 1996 BS SAP was a groundbreaking document for the Black Sea region which established specific targets and timetables for implementing the objectives of the 1992 Bucharest Convention. However, it was an overly ambitious document and very few of the targets were accomplished on time. Furthermore, the 1996 BS SAP also suffered from problems of enforcement of national environmental laws and legislation, and the lack of a regional mechanism to ensure compliance with different policy actions . An amendment in 2002 (the 2002 Sofia Ministerial Declaration) aimed to resolve some of these issues and reconfirm commitments of the Black Sea coastal states to implement the BS SAP.
The 2009 BS SAP has been formulated through careful consideration of inter alia the 1996 SAP, the 2007 BS TDA and the 2007 BS SAP Gap Analysis. It aims to help resolve the transboundary environmental problems of the Black Sea and is a joint effort between the six Black Sea countries. The SAP was elaborated from consensus reached at a multinational level in relation to a series of proposals that include: Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs); short, medium and long term targets; and legal and institutional reforms and investments necessary to solve main environmental problems identified within the 2007 BS TDA. The process of elaboration of the SAP was characterized by the participation and commitment of the main social stakeholders and key institutions of the Black Sea countries.
The Black Sea Commission is the regional cooperation framework, made up of with one member from each of the six national governments. The Black Sea coastal states entrusted a coordinating role for the implementation of the BSASP to the Black Sea Commission supported in its activity for implementation of the work program of the Black Sea Commission by its Permanent Secretariat.
In order to achieve, the purposes of this SAP, the Commission will cooperate with competent international organisations, especially with a view to developing appropriate programs or obtaining assistance.
The geographical scope of the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution is applied to the Black Sea proper, with the Southern boundary constituted, for the purposes of this Convention, by a line running between Capes Kelagra and Dalyan. In addition the SAP will cover pollution sources from coastal area. In addition, Black Sea coastal states shall make effort to implement relevant provisions of the SAP at the Black Sea basin level.
The Black Sea coastal States share a common desire for the sustainable management of the natural resources and biodiversity of the Black Sea and recognize their role and responsibility in conserving the global value of these resources. The states have considered and taken into account, where appropriate, the following principles and values when developing this document.
1 5.1. The principle of sustainability shall be applied such that there is a prudent and rational utilization of living resources and the preservation of the rights of future generations to a viable environment.
1.5.2. The precautionary principle shall be applied, such that measures shall be taken when there are reasonable grounds for concern that any activity may increase the potential hazards to human health, harm living resources or ecosystems, damage amenities, or interfere with other legitimate uses of the Black Sea, even when there is no conclusive evidence of a causal relationship between the activity and the effects; and by virtue of which, greater caution is required when information, including scientific information, is uncertain, unreliable or inadequate.
1.5.3. The polluter pays principle shall be applied, such that the cost of preventing and eliminating pollution, including clean-up costs, shall be paid by the polluter.
1.5.4. The principle of anticipatory action shall be applied, such that contingency planning, environmental impact assessment and strategic impact assessment (involving the assessment of the environmental and social consequences of governmental policies, programmes and plans) shall be undertaken in the future development in the region.
1.5.5. The principle of preventative action shall be applied, such that timely action shall be taken to alert the responsible and relevant authorities of likely impacts and to address the actual or potential causes of adverse impacts on the environment, before they occur.
1.5.6. Environmental and health considerations shall be included into all relevant policies and sectoral plans and programmes, including, inter alia, urban planning, industrial development, fisheries, aquaculture and tourism.
1.5.7. Use of clean technology shall be promoted when replacing or phasing-out high waste and waste-generating technologies, including the use of BAT and BEP.
1.5.8. Use of Sustainable Agriculture including the use of Good Agricultural Practices (GAP) shall be promoted in order to replace or phase-out unsustainable agricultural practices.
1.5.9. Development planning and environmental planning processes should be integrated to the maximum extent. The use of economic instruments that foster sustainable development shall be promoted through, inter alia, the implementation of economic incentives for introducing environmentally friendly technologies, activities and practices; the phasing-out of subsidies which encourage the continuation of non-environmentally friendly technologies, activities and practices; and the introduction of user fees.
1.5.10. The principle of accessibility of information shall be applied, such that information on the pollution of the environment of the Black Sea held by a littoral state shall be provided by that state to all littoral states, where relevant and in the maximum possible amount.
1.5.11. The principles of public participation and transparency shall be applied, such that all stakeholders, including communities, individuals and concerned organizations shall be given the opportunity to participate, at the appropriate level, in decision-making and management processes that affect the Black Sea. This includes providing access to information concerning the environment that is held by public authorities, together with effective access to judicial and administrative proceedings to enable all stakeholders to exercise their rights effectively. Public authorities shall widely disseminate information on the work proposed and undertaken to monitor, protect and improve the state of Black Sea.
The vision for the Black Sea is to preserve its ecosystem as a valuable natural endowment of the region, whilst ensuring the protection of its marine and coastal living resources as a condition for sustainable development of the Black Sea coastal states, well-being, health and security of their population.
The Black Sea TDA-2007 reconfirmed four priority transboundary problems expressed in the BS SAP 1996, amended 2002. These are: eutrophication/nutrient enrichment; changes in marine living resources; chemical pollution (including oil); and biodiversity/habitat changes, including alien species introduction. The identified priorities are outlined below, together with the hotspots, and legal and institutional analyses.
This decrease in the importance of agriculture as an economic powerhouse of the region has been clearly shown by decreasing trends in livestock numbers and a shift from major livestock farms to smaller-scale or subsistence-level farming. Livestock numbers (excluding poultry) in 2004 were about two-thirds of those present 1997, and about one-third of the numbers recorded in 1998. Inorganic fertiliser application rates also appear to have fallen substantially, with large areas of land (in some countries at least) left fallow. However, indicators suggest that this decline in agricultural productivity may have bottomed-out, so a gradual re-intensification of agricultural practices may begin in the near future.
Direct discharges from large municipal/industrial plants to the Sea are equivalent to only small proportion of nutrients discharged to the Sea via rivers, of which the Danube is by far the most important. Available information also suggests that atmospheric deposition of nitrogen to the Sea may be of a similar order of magnitude to river loads, but there is considerable uncertainty over the data used, with a clear need for updating and harmonisation of monitoring protocols.
Based on the data reported by the Black Sea coastal states and the results presented in the 2007 Black Sea TDA, it is suggested that more than 80% of the river-borne inorganic nitrogen load and around 50% of the river-borne phosphate load enters the Sea from the Danube. However, the Danube has by far the most rigorous nutrient loads monitoring programme of all rivers, and it is likely that nutrient loads from other rivers are under-estimated by comparison. The importance of freshwater nutrient inflows to the Sea of Azov could not be estimated because of a lack of data for the Kerch Strait.
Between 1996 and 2005 there has been no evidence of a change in river-borne DIN loads to the Sea, albeit with a moderate (15%) decrease in river-borne PO4-P loads over the same period. However, the level of confidence associated with the PO4-P load decrease is very low, due to the large inter-annual variability.
Considering that the Danube is such a major pathway of nutrient input to the Black Sea and that phosphorus emissions to the Danube are estimated to have fallen by approaching 50% between 1990 and 2000, and nitrogen emissions by about 20% between 1985 and 2000, this may appear to be disappointing. However, reductions in nutrient loads/concentrations in the upper and middle reaches of the Danube have been observed since 2000, and these improvements are expected to continue downstream in future years.
Due to over fishing in the early 1970s-1980s, the structure of catches has shifted significantly. Declining stocks of predatory species such as bonito, horse mackerel and bluefish resulted in an increase in non-predatory species such as anchovy and sprat. Consequently, fishing fleets have increasingly targeted these smaller species, resulting in increased by-catches of larger, less abundant fish species. Total fish landings are now about half of what they were in the latter half of the 1980s.
Commercially important marine living resources have been greatly affected by alien species introductions, eutrophication, over-fishing and habitats change/damage. Annual total fish catch statistics show an improving situation, but these figures are dominated by catches of anchovy and sprat. There have been recent improvements in catches of some other fish, such as bonito, but turbot, dogfish and whiting catches have either shown no improvement or have fallen over the past decade-or-so. Sturgeons remain endangered. Unsustainable fishing practices are still in relatively common use.
The importance of Rapana, the Japanese Snail has increased and has helped to off-set the decline in mussel and clam landings (the decline being due, in large part, to predation by Rapana anyway).
The contribution of illegal fishing activities to damage/change of marine living resources is not clearly understood, but there a general acceptance that this is a causative factor.
The seafood industry is a major coastal employer, particularly for some countries. Aquaculture is not strongly developed in the region and there is scope for this to be expanded, providing environmental considerations are taken into account.
An assessment of pollutant loads from river and large direct municipal/industrial discharges was made. However, the pollution loads data are very incomplete, BOD5 being the only parameter (apart from nutrients) that is routinely monitored from major point sources and rivers. Relatively high contamination levels of some pesticides, heavy metals and PCBs are present at specific sites in the Black Sea, with illegal dumping/discharges (particularly of agrochemicals) being recognised as a particular problem. The historically poor enforcement of discharge standards and a failure to consider the Sea itself as a receiving water body for discharges to river are considered to be the principal reasons underlying the pollution status of the Sea.
A huge increase in the volume of oil being transported across the Black Sea and oil/gas extraction from beneath the Sea itself have greatly increased the risk of oil pollution. This presents two types of problem: (i) localised chronic pollution stemming from frequent but minor releases of oil; and (ii) acute pollution resulting from major oils spills. Remote sensing data show that the majority of oil spills occur along major shipping routes, suggesting that shipping, rather than land-based oil installations have been the principal cause of concern. However, a single large spill from ships, platforms or land-based oil installations could severely impact biota and the economies of all coastal countries.
Formerly “dead” areas of the NW Shelf bed are once again colonised by biota, with evidence of biodiversity continuing to increase. The once massive area dominated by Zernov’s Phyllophora (a red seaweed) field has decreased hugely in area over the last few decades, having been replaced by other, opportunistic macroalgae. However, there are encouraging signs that in recent years this decline has either slowed down and recovery may actually be beginning at some sites. However, during the last two decades, the area covered by eelgrass (Zostera) has decreased tenfold in shallow waters.
Further, all coastal margin habitats are considered to be in a critical status in at least one country; both types of pelagic habitat (neritic and open sea) are considered critical in at least one country; and 13 of 37 types of benthic habitat are considered to be critical in at least one country. Those habitats most at risk include the neritic water column, coastal lagoons, estuaries/deltas and wetlands/saltmarshes.
The invasion of Mnemiopsis leidyi (a comb jelly) contributed to a catastrophic decline in fish productivity in the late 1980s/early 1990s. The subsequent invasion of another comb jelly (Beroe ovata), which feeds on the original invader, means that opinions are now split as to whether Mnemiopsis still has a major impact on fish communities and catches.
Between 1996 and 2005 a total of 48 new alien species were recorded, which represents over 22 % of all registered aliens. The majority belong to phytoplankton (16) and zoobenthos (15), followed by zooplankton (8), fish (5), macroalgae (3) and mammals (1). This increase in invasive aliens suggests a serious impact on the Black Sea native biological diversity, with negative consequences for human activities and economic interests.
Many of the immediate, underlying and root causes of individual transboundary problems are shared with other problems. In particular, the causal chain analyses for nutrient enrichment and chemical pollution are very similar, since the majority of sources of chemical pollution are also sources of nutrients. For biodiversity, the failure to adequately treat ship ballast water is regarded as being an important cause of the problem, and for changes in commercial marine living resources the other three transboundary problems are clearly contributory factors.
It is clear, therefore that the four transboundary problems cannot be dealt with individually. Improvements in management of one problem will have knock-on effects for other problems, and addressing individual causes is likely to improve the situation with regard to at least two, if not more, of the four transboundary problems. For example, one of the causes of all four of the environmental problems is that of poorly regulated coastal development. The six coastal countries all agree with the ‘ecology tenet’ underlying integrated coastal zone management, i.e. that coastal development should take account of marine ecology, conservation and biodiversity, but the underlying institutional structures vary considerably between countries. There are many examples where money has spoken louder than words.
A review of planned and proposed capital investments on pollution point sources identified from the 1996 TDA has shown disappointing results. Of the 50 investments initially identified, only 12 have been completed and 2 are no longer required. A decade later, work is in progress on another 10 point sources, but over half of the capital investments originally identified have either been insufficiently funded or not funded at all. Capital investment costs to address the identified 50 hot-spots were originally estimated to be almost $400 million. By the end of 2005 at least $143 million had been spent on addressing these point sources, with a further $340 million planned to be spent by the end of 2015.
National environmental legislation is relatively strong, but the enforcement of this legislation has been less robust. The division of responsibilities for environmental monitoring and protection between different ministries and intra-ministerial organizations is sometimes over-complex and could be simplified in some countries at least.
In Bulgaria and Romania, EU Accession and membership has been good news for the environment. Turkey is in the initial stages of its EU accession negotiations and is keen to fund the capital investments and adopt the best agricultural practice regulations required, so further environmental improvements should accrue in the future. However, there is a need for improved cooperation between the Environment and other Ministries in all countries.
Following the provisions of the Odessa Declaration 1993 and invitation of the Black Sea coastal states the Black Sea Environmental Programme (BSEP) was launched in June 1993. The Programme included a number of interventions by the GEF, including the development of the first Black Sea Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis (TDA), finalised in June 1996. On the basis of this comprehensive report senior government officials negotiated the Black Sea Strategic Action Plan (BS SAP), signed on October 31st 1996 at a Ministerial Conference in Istanbul, amended on June 14, 2002 in Sofia.
An updated Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis 2007 was carried out on the request of the Black Sea Commission with continued support by GEF and EC. Combined efforts have resulted in an assessment of the work undertaken in meeting the aims of the BS SAP 1996, together with the delivery of an updated (2007) TDA. These documents include contributions from and the opinions of some 60 Black Sea regional experts.
The 2007 Black Sea SAP will adhere to 3 key environmental management approaches. These are:
A description of each approach is outlined in the Glossary of Terms (Annex 3).
The Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs) are statements regarding the Vision that reflect how stakeholders would like the state of the Black Sea to be over the long term, based on a resolution of priority problems identified in the Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis.
The TDA 2007 reconfirmed four priority transboundary environmental problems, described above, requiring coordinated efforts by all Black Sea coastal States. It was determined that these areas of concern, and their causes, could be most effectively and appropriately addressed through the aims of four Ecosystem Quality Objectives (EcoQOs). The four EcoQOs and associated Sub EcoQOs are:
EcoQO 1: Preserve commercial marine living resources.
EcoQO 1a: Sustainable use of commercial fish stocks and other marine living resources.
EcoQO 1b: Restore/rehabilitate stocks of commercial marine living resources.
EcoQO 2: Conservation of Black Sea Biodiversity and Habitats.
EcoQO 2a: Reduce the risk of extinction of threatened species.
EcoQO 2b: Conserve coastal and marine habitats and landscapes.
EcoQO 2c: Reduce and manage human mediated species introductions
EcoQO 3: Reduce eutrophication.
EcoQO 4: Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota.
EcoQO 4a: Reduce pollutants originating from land based sources, including atmospheric emissions.
EcoQO 4b: Reduce pollutants originating from shipping activities and offshore installations
Each EcoQO is assigned a number of management targets that address the immediate, underlying and root causes of the concern areas. For regional level interventions, the Black Sea coastal States and the international partners shall work collectively to take the required steps to fulfill those interventions. National level supporting interventions will be the responsibility of individual states.
Management targets are shown in the table below. The timings of the interventions in order to meet these targets are also listed (short-term = 1-5 years, mid-term = >5-10 years and long-term = >10 years), as is the perceived relative importance of individual interventions. Further details on each EcoQO, including targets, outputs, time to implement, legal, institutional and policy reforms required, indicators of success and uncertainties are presented in a series of matrices in Annex 1.
Reference (Annex 3) |
Overall target |
Short-term target |
Mid-term target |
Long-term target |
Priority |
(1) |
Adopt and implement a Regional Agreement for fisheries and conservation of living resources of the Black Sea. |
|
|
|
High |
(10) |
Develop and introduce methodologies to assess the condition of populations of commercial marine living resources. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(11) |
Finalise, adopt and implement the regional SAP for Black Sea Biodiversity and undertake 5 yearly regional update of the list of conservation status of threatened coastal and marine species as well as list of critical habitats for these species. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(12) |
All six BS countries adopt and implement a regional Conservation Plan for Black Sea endangered species and develop national action plans. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(13) |
Assess impacts of climate change on Black Sea ecosystem and sustainable development of the coastal population |
|
|
|
Medium/ Low |
(14) |
Consider the necessity of creation of new and/or expansion of existing protected areas, including transboundary areas in consultation with the relevant Black Sea countries with particular attention to marine protected areas. Establish or extend these areas where necessary. |
|
|
|
High |
(15) |
Further recognise and implement integrated coastal zone management principles. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(16) |
Develop and disseminate information, training and education materials on ICZM in regional languages, referring to coastal and marine biodiversity conservation. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(17) |
Regionally converge on Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment procedures. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(18) |
Amend national waste strategies and/or national coastal zone management plans with the aim of coastal and marine litter minimisation. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(19) |
Develop regional and national marine litter monitoring and assessment methodologies on the basis of common research approaches, evaluation criteria and reporting requirements. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(20) |
Promote/develop investment projects within national strategies/local plans to engineer, construct and install new solid waste recycling facilities, landfill sites and incineration plants, complying with BAT regulations. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(21) |
Monitor and facilitate the progress in the implementation of nationally developed management plans of the protected areas. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(22) |
Develop an inventory, classification and a mapping system for BS habitats. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(23) |
Identify and make an inventory of Black Sea landscapes of high natural, historical, cultural and aesthetic value. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(24) |
Undertake preliminary regional assessment of coastal erosion. |
|
|
|
Low |
(25) |
Support coordinated scientific studies, increase resources to marine science and improve capacity particularly through targeted training programmes supporting scientific projects/programmes. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(26) |
Promote cooperation in the Black Sea in line with principles and recommendations of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments. |
|
|
|
High |
(27) |
Harmonise ballast water procedures using IMO guidelines. |
|
|
|
High |
(28) |
Identify actions towards ratification of the BWM Convention in the BS region. |
|
|
|
High |
(29) |
Implement integrated river basin management and integrated coastal zone management approaches, as stated in revised LBSA protocol. |
|
|
|
High |
(30) |
Introduce cost efficiency approach to nutrient management in all BS countries. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(31) |
Upgrade all WWTPs serving populations > 200,000 p.e. within the BS countries sub-basins to include N&P removal. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(32) |
Ensure all tourist resorts are connected to sewerage systems with WWTPs of adequate capacity to address seasonal loads. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(33) |
Ensure that all industrial plants have adequate wastewater treatment to reduce N&P emissions from direct discharge to surface waters. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(34) |
Reduce or phase out the use of high P-containing laundry detergents. |
|
|
|
High |
(35) |
Introduce harmonised P and N standards for all WWTPs serving >100,000 p.e. Ensure compliance with and harmonise standards at regional level. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(36) |
Reduce atmospheric emissions of N from municipal, agricultural and industrial sources, though the introduction of BAT, BAP principles etc. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(37) |
Harmonise the monitoring and assessment of N & P (concentrations and loads) in major rivers and straits. |
|
|
|
High |
(38) |
Improve network of atmospheric deposition monitoring stations around the Black Sea coast. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(39) |
Develop a nutrient modelling tool to enable source apportionment estimates to be made. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(40) |
Improve the use of regulatory instruments for reducing point and diffuse source pollution from agriculture. |
|
|
|
High |
(41) |
Where financial resources are available and to the greatest possible extent, introduce appropriate economic incentives to reduce nutrient emissions from agriculture. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(42) |
Develop and expand the capacity of national agricultural extension services for promoting the control of agricultural pollution. |
|
|
|
High |
(43) |
|
|
|
Medium |
|
(44) |
Develop/define BAT for the design and operation of large-scale agro-industrial livestock production units, including pig and poultry farms with no land. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(45) |
All BS states agree to implement provisions of the LBSA Protocol to the BS Convention. |
|
|
|
High |
(46) |
Strengthen enforcement of national/regional and international regulations on land–based pollution sources. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(47) |
Develop economic incentive mechanisms for chemical pollution control. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(48) |
Introduce and disseminate the concept of BAT and BEP as a tool for encouraging farmers to deliver the highest level of on-farm pollution control. |
|
|
|
High |
(49) |
Introduce BAT and BEP for the most polluting industries and activities in all BS countries. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(50) |
Harmonise environmental quality standards throughout the Black Sea region and elaborate regionally agreed criteria for assessment of the state of the Black Sea environment. |
|
|
|
High |
(51) |
Develop/improve the existing monitoring system to provide comparable data sets for pollutant loads (from direct discharges and river inputs) and for other parameters. |
|
|
|
High |
(52) |
Improve the “List of Black Sea-specific priority pollutants” to help target monitoring priorities. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(53) |
Continue/improve rehabilitation /construction and monitoring of wastewater treatment plants. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(54) |
Optimise and/or increase resources to regulatory and enforcement bodies responsible for pollution control and improve capacity through targeted training programmes. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(55) |
Adopt the Black Sea Contingency Plan to the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations (Part I – Response to oil pollution). |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(56) |
Develop and adopt Part II (Chemical Plan) of the Black Sea Contingency Plan to the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(57) |
Establish an inter-state ministerial mechanism to enable a quick response to major pollution events. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(58) |
Adopt and enforce relevant international legal instruments for safety navigation, pollution prevention, limitation of liability and compensation. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(59) |
Improve regulations/ management of dredging / dumping activities. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(60) |
Provide adequate port reception facilities for ship-generated wastes according to MARPOL 73/78, Annex I, IV, V. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(61) |
Establish a harmonised fee/cost recovery system on ship-generated waste. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(62) |
Develop systems for the identification of illegal pollution sources from vessels and off-shore installations. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(63) |
Develop/establish a harmonised enforcement system in cases of illegal discharges from vessels and off-shore installations, including technical means and fines. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(64) |
Develop a common system of claims management for pollution damages compensation. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(65) |
Assess the need to develop a legal framework for assessment of the transportation of hazardous wastes in line with Basel Convention. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
In addition, having regard to the ecosystem approach, the following recommendations are made to competent authorities on fisheries management.
(2) |
Harmonise and improve methodologies for the collation of fisheries statistic data and for assessment of the fish stocks at a regional level |
|
|
|
High |
(3) |
Increase resources to regulatory bodies responsible for fisheries management |
|
|
|
Medium |
(4) |
Improved regionally-agreed system to match fishing effort to stocks |
|
|
|
High |
(5) |
Ban non–precautionary fishing technologies |
|
|
|
High/ Medium |
(6) |
Introduce instruments including management, economic and legal to ensure increased production from environmentally friendly mariculture to encourage a decrease in fishing effort. |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(7) |
Develop regulations aimed at decreasing by-catch level |
|
|
|
High / Medium |
(8) |
Elaborate and implement measures for increasing of the fish recruitment for the protection of juvenile commercial fish. |
|
|
|
Medium |
(9) |
Minimise ghost fishing caused by discarded, abandoned or lost fixed and floating nets, including those used in illegal/unregulated fishing activities |
|
|
|
Medium |
A number of cross-cutting issues in the Black Sea will also need to be addressed in order for the EcoQOs to be successfully achieved. These include:
These issues have not necessarily been dealt with by inclusion as Management Targets under all of the Ecological Quality Objectives (Section 3.3).
Stakeholder involvement (improved public engagement) is seen as being particularly important in addressing agriculture-derived pollution (POPs and nutrients), fishing activities and the introduction/acceptance of the BAT and BEP principle by industry representatives.
The Causal Chain Analyses in the 2007 Black Sea TDA found climate change to be a contributory factor to all four transboundary problems, but not an immediate or underlying cause. Moreover, the causes of climate change are global, so need to be addressed primarily at a global, rather than a regional level, albeit with national targets set to tackle the issue. For this reason, climate change is included only in Management Target 13 (Annex 3), with the intention only to investigate the impacts of this phenomenon.
Full public involvement is required at all levels in order to successfully implement the Bucharest Convention. Barriers to public engagement including linguistic, legal, operational, as well as differing perspectives among stakeholders, politicians and policy makers, need to be overcome to achieve wider public “buy-in” to the aims and achievements of the Black Sea Commission. This will continue to be done through awareness-raising activities (e.g. the celebration of International Black Day) and improved outreach programmes, such as regional information networks and information exchange mechanisms. However, it needs to be acknowledged that effective engagement of civil society in planning, management and decision-making can only be accomplished by on-going encouragement, strengthened capacities, and financial commitment by donors and countries.
With the end of 15 years of GEF-UNDP financial and technical support for the operation of the Commission and its subsidiary bodies, there is a need to revise and restructure the staffing and operation of the Permanent Secretariat, whilst increasing the effectiveness of the Advisory Groups and Activity Centres.
3.6.1. The Commission
The Black Sea Commission shall take a proactive role in promoting the objectives of the BS SAP and improving the visibility of the Black Sea Commission.
3.6.2.The Permanent Secretariat
Strengthening of the Permanent Secretariat is of paramount importance for the implementation of the provisions of the Convention and the BS SAP. The Black Sea coastal states consider essential to manage the responsibilities and work load and will ensure support to have fully staffed and highly operational Permanent Secretariat.
3.6.3. The Advisory Groups and Activity Centres
Contracting Parties shall further support and strengthen the institutional capacity of the Advisory Groups and Activity Centers. The role of these bodies will be analysed and if necessary enhanced to ensure effective implementation of the SAP and the Convention.
A legal framework shall enable the effective fulfillment of SAP recommendations and an institutional framework for coordination and articulation of the respective environmental mandates of the Black Sea governments, and the functions thereby delegated to the Black Sea Commission.
Coastal countries’ activities in the field of environmental protection of the Black Sea are regulated under the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea against Pollution, its Protocols and other relevant national/international legislation. The Black Sea countries are also bound by international environmental agreements and conventions. A large number of conventions and agreements have been signed and ratified by all six countries, providing a good basis for improvement of transboundary cooperation. International / transboundary cooperation is also supported through bi/tri-lateral agreements.
Bulgaria, Romania and Ukraine are also parties to the Danube River Protection Convention, which forms the overall legal instrument for cooperation and transboundary water management in the Danube River Basin. All Black Sea countries are members of the Black Sea Economic Cooperation Organization, where the cooperation is ensured through a Memorandum of Understanding. Being members of the European Community Bulgaria and Romania have expressed the need to ensure the full participation of the European Community in the BSC and the issue will be addressed in accordance with the procedures under the Convention.
There are a number of regional economic organizations with which the Black Sea countries may cooperate in achieving the goals of the SAP.
Changes of the present legal framework are expected to occur at the regional level. These changes may include: ratification by all six countries of the 2003 Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol, adoption and ratification of the Protocol on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Black Sea from Land-Based Sources and Activities and of the Legally Binding Document on Fisheries. In addition, the 1996 BS SAP is replaced by updated BS SAP 2009, following political negotiations and ministerial agreement. Implementation of regional (and wider international) agreements and policies into national legislation requires the formation of national management structures, for example, Inter-Ministerial Coordination Committees.
In order to strengthen and coordinate regional cooperation related to the transboundary problems of chemical pollution, changes in habitats, biodiversity and marine living resources and eutrophication, all six coastal countries shall endeavour to:
Following agreement at Ministerial level, national implementation of the SAP shall be the responsibility of the governments of the Black Sea Countries and coordination of the its implementation at the regional level shall be entrusted to the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution.
Black Sea Countries agree to:
At the regional level, SAP implementation will be coordinated by the BS Commission supported by BSC Permanent Secretariat, BSC Advisory Groups and Activity Centres as in kind contribution of the Black Sea coastal states. Additional funding for SAP implementation should be sought from both public and private sectors. The Permanent Secretariat will need to maintain close communication with the NFPs, who should report annually to the BS Commission on SAP implementation status at national levels. In implementing the requirements of this document, it is expected that the BSC will act as:
i) The state of/trends in the marine environment
ii) The efficacy of measures to protect it
iii) Common initiatives and positions which could form the basis for cooperation and decision-making in other international fora
Reliable funding is essential for the implementation of BS SAP. Domestic finances, both public and private, shall remain the major source of environmental protection funding in the Black Sea countries. Countries shall actively develop Public-Private Partnerships and other innovative approaches to the delivery of traditionally state-owned environmental services such as water resource management or municipal environmental infrastructure. Specific national funding arrangements for the implementation of BS SAP shall be reflected in national strategic policy documents: National BS Action Plans or National Environmental Action Plans.
There are strong reasons for continuing the international financial assistance for the protection of the Black Sea environment. International assistance still plays an important catalytic role in overall regional cooperation. The expansion of the EU in the region has had a major impact, resulting in new opportunities for better environmental management and accessing environmental finances. The new EU Neighbourhood and Partnership instrument provides new opportunities for enhanced transboundary cooperation and access to additional finances. The priorities and approaches of donors and IFIs in the Black Sea region have steadily evolved since bilateral donors are progressively scaling down their programmes in the area, while IFIs have increased their assistance in the form of loans. Taking into account this fact, strengthening and building of the project development capacity, at both national and sub-national levels, and donor coordination are essential. Donors have also made important progress in developing more coordinated and strategic ways of working together, for example through EU multi-donor initiatives such as the Danube and Black Sea Task Force (DABLAS). One of the key challenge for the years to come will include the scale up and disseminate the positive experiences from donor and IFI past projects, especially from GEF funded BSEP and BSERP.
AC’s |
Activity Centres |
AG’s |
Advisory Groups |
BAT |
Best Available Technique |
BAP |
Best Agricultural Practices |
BEP |
Best Environmental Practice |
BOD5 |
Biochemical Oxygen Demand |
BSIMAP |
Black Sea Information Monitoring and Assessment Programme |
BS |
Black Sea |
BSC |
Black Sea Commission or Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution |
BSERP |
Black Sea Ecosystem Recovery Project |
BS SAP |
Black Sea Strategic Action Plan |
BWM Convention |
International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships’ Ballast Water and Sediments |
CLC’92 Protocol |
1992 Protocol to the 1969 International Convention on Civil Liability for Oil Pollution Damage |
CPs |
Contracting Parties |
DABLAS |
Danube and Black Sea Task Force |
DIN |
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen |
EA |
Environmental Assessment |
EC |
European Commission |
EcoQOs |
Ecosystem Quality Objectives |
EIA |
Environmental Impact Assessment |
EU |
European Union |
FAO |
Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations |
GEF |
Global Environmental Facility |
GIS |
Geographical Information System |
ICZM |
Integrated Coastal Zone Management |
IFI |
International Financial Institutions |
IMO |
International Maritime Organization |
IRBM |
Integrated River Basin Management |
IUCN |
International Union for Conservation of Nature |
LBD |
Legally Binding Document |
LBSA |
Land Based Sources and Activities |
MARPOL 73/78 |
International Convention for the prevention of pollution from Ships, 1973, as modified by protocol of 1978 relating thereto |
MLR |
Marine Living Resources |
MPA |
Marine Protected Area |
N |
Nitrogen |
NGO |
Non – Governmental Organisation |
NW Shelf |
North – West Shelf |
P |
Phosphorus |
PA |
Protected Area |
PCBs |
Poly-Chlorinated Biphenyls |
POPs |
Persistent Organic Pollutants |
PO4-P |
Phosphate |
PS |
Permanent Secretariat of the Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution |
QA/QC |
Quality Assurance/Quality Control |
RBM |
River Basin Management |
SEA |
Strategic Environmental Assessment |
TDA |
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis |
UNDP |
United Nations Development Programme |
UWWTPs |
Urban Waste Water Treatment Plants |
VTOPIS |
Vessel Trafic Oil Pollution Information System |
WWTPs |
Waste Water Treatment Plants |
WWTWs |
Waste Water Treatment Works |
Best Available
|
The latest stage of development (state of the art) of processes, facilities or methods of operation, which indicate the practical suitability of a particular measure for limiting emissions and waste. "Techniques" include both the technology used and the way in which the installation is designed, built, maintained, operated and dismantled. |
Best Agriculture Practice
|
A practice that minimizes the risk of causing pollution while protecting natural resources and allowing economic agriculture to continue. |
Best Environmental Practice |
A practice that minimizes the risk to the environment. |
Biochemical Oxygen |
The amount of oxygen used for biochemical oxidation by a unit volume of water at a given temperature over a 5-day period. BOD5 is an index of the degree of organic pollution in water. |
Causal Chain Analysis |
An analysis of the immediate, underlying and root causes leading to the generation of an environmental problem. |
Clean Technology |
A diverse range of products, services, and processes that harness renewable materials and energy sources, dramatically reduce the use of natural resources, and cut or eliminate emissions and wastes |
Coastal area |
The part of the land affected by its proximity to the sea, and that part of the sea affected by its proximity to the land as to the extent to which man's land-based activities have a measurable influence on water chemistry and marine ecology. |
Dissolved Inorganic Nitrogen |
DIN is the sum of the concentrations of nitrate and ammonia. Nitrogen (in its different forms) is a major plant nutrient. |
EU Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument |
The financial instrument under which EC assistance to Eastern Europe, Southern Caucasus and South Mediterranean countries is provided since 1st January 2007. It replaces MEDA and TACIS Instruments. |
The Danube and Black |
The DABLAS Task Force comprises a number of representatives from the countries in the region, the International Commission for the Protection of the River Danube (ICPDR), the Black Sea Commission, International Financing Institutions (IFIs), the EC, interested EU Member States, other bilateral donors and other regional/ international organisations with relevant functions. The European Commission DG Environment holds the Secretariat of the Task Force. |
Ecological Quality Objective |
A desired level of ecological quality relative to predetermined reference levels. |
Ecosystem Approach |
The ecosystem approach is the primary framework for action under the Convention on Biological Diversity. It represents a strategy for the integrated management of land, water and living resources that promotes conservation and sustainable use in an equitable way. The ecosystem approach recognizes that humans are an integral component of many ecosystems. A description of the ecosystem approach, operational guidance and recommendations on its application were endorsed by the Fifth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the CBD Convention (decision V/6). All six BS Countries are parties to the CBD Convention. |
Eutrophication |
Excessive nutrient concentrations in a waterbody, usually caused by emissions of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage, etc.) from land, which cause a dense growth of plant life (phytoplankton and benthic macrophytes/ macroalgae). The decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life. |
Integrated Coastal Zone Management |
Integrated coastal zone management (ICZM) is a dynamic, multidisciplinary and iterative process to promote sustainable management of coastal zones. It covers the full cycle of information collection, planning (in its broadest sense), decision making, management and monitoring of implementation. ICZM uses the informed participation and cooperation of all stakeholders to assess the societal goals in a given coastal area, and to take actions towards meeting these objectives. ICZM seeks, over the long-term, to balance environmental, economic, social, cultural and recreational objectives, all within the limits set by natural dynamics. |
Integrated River Basin Management |
A holistic approach addressing, in addition to quality of rivers, lakes, transitional waters, coastal waters and groundwaters, pressures within the catchment that may cause deterioration or provide risk to water and its ecology. It requires better understanding of pressures and their impacts on waters and the response of aquatic systems, as well as a collaborative planning and decision-making process in cooperation with all stakeholders in the river basin. |
London Protocol |
The London Protocol was agreed in 1996 to further modernize the "Convention on the Prevention of Marine Pollution by Dumping of Wastes and Other Matter 1972", the "London Convention" and, eventually, replace it. Under the Protocol all dumping is prohibited, except for possibly acceptable wastes on the so-called "reverse list". The Protocol entered into force on 24 March 2006. |
Marine Protected Area |
An area of sea (or coast) especially dedicated to the protection and maintenance of biological diversity, and of natural and associated cultural resources, and managed through legal or other effective means. |
MARPOL 73/78 |
International Convention for the prevention of pollution from Ships, 1973, as Modified by protocol of 1978 relating thereto. |
Poly-Chlorinated
|
PCBs include many different chemicals (congeners) that come in various forms including oily liquids, solids and hard resins. PCBs are organochlorines that were manufactured until the mid-1980s, after which they were banned due to their toxicity and persistence. They are fat-soluble, so bioaccumulate in the tissues of animals. Exposure to PCBs can permanently damage the nervous, reproductive and immune systems of the human body. They are also potent carcinogens. The disposal of wastes containing PCBs is regulated by the Basel Convention. |
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons |
PAHs are a very large number of naturally occurring and man-made chemicals. They are insoluble in water but dissolve readily in fats and oils. Well-known PAHs include the compounds benzo[a]pyrene, fluoranthene, naphthaline and anthracene. |
Persistent Organic Pollutants |
POPs are chemicals that remain intact in the environment for long periods, accumulate in the fatty tissue of living organisms and are toxic to humans and wildlife. The term includes chemicals like DDT, chlordane, and endrin, dioxins and furans, among many others. The Stockholm Convention is a global treaty to protect human health and the environment from persistent organic pollutants (POPs). In implementing the Convention, governments agree to take measures to eliminate or reduce the release of POPs into the environment. |
Precautionary Principle |
A guiding framework for decision-making that anticipates how actions could affect the environment and health of future generations. The Principle emphasizes public participation and stakeholder collaboration in long-term environmental health and ecological policies and programmes. The precautionary approach encompasses five primary components: 1. An obligation exists to examine a full range of alternatives, including doing nothing. |
Polluter Pays Principle |
An environmental law principle in which the polluting parties pay for the damage done by their actions to the natural environment. |
Principle of Preventive Action |
An environmental law principle requiring the prevention of damage to the environment, with obligations to reduce, limit or control activities that might cause or risk such damage. |
Strategic Action Plan |
A regional strategic plan of measures designed to tackle the major environmental problems of a transboundary waterbody |
Sustainable Agriculture |
The ability to farm food indefinitely, without causing irreversible damage to ecosystem health. Two key issues are biophysical (the long-term effects of practices on soil properties and processes essential for crop productivity) and socio-economic (the long-term ability of farmers to obtain inputs and manage resources such as labour). |
Sustainable Development |
Sustainable development is a socio-ecological process characterized by the fulfillment of human needs while maintaining the quality of the natural environmental indefinitely. |
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis |
An assessment, through which the water-related environmental issues and problems of a region are identified and quantified, their causes analysed and their impacts assessed. |
Each EcoQO consists of a number of short-, mid- and/or long-term management targets that address the root causes of the concern areas. For regional level interventions, the Black Sea coastal States and the international partners shall work collectively to take the required steps to fulfill the intervention. The national level supporting interventions will be the responsibility of the individual states. The EcoQOs and their targets are listed below, including outputs, time to implement, legal, institutional and policy reforms required, indicators of success, priorities and uncertainties. It is worthy to note that, having regard to the ecosystem approach, the management targets 2 to 10 are recommendations made to competent authorities on fisheries management.
EcoQO 1: Preserve commercial marine living resources.
EcoQO 1a: Sustainable use of commercial fish stocks and other marine living resources.
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
||||||
Policy/legislation |
||||||
(1). Adopt and implement a Regional Agreement for fisheries and conservation of living resources of the Black Sea |
Stocks managed in a sustainable manner |
|
LBD on fisheries adopted in all Black Sea countries |
Regional agreement on fishery management signed and enforced. |
High |
Position of EC on behalf of Bulgaria and Romania |
Short-term target |
Management of the state of fish stocks in sustainable way |
5 years |
|
Increase in biomass of demersal fish stocks of 30% |
|
|
Mid-term target |
Control of fishing vessels during the closed season and protection of the closed areas |
10 years |
|
End of poaching activity in open sea |
|
|
Monitoring and assessment |
||||||
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
(2). Harmonise and improve methodologies for the collation of fisheries statistic data and for assessment of the fish stocks at a regional level
Short-term target Methodologies agreed by all 6 countries for improved estimation of individual species and total fish landings Mid-term targets Reporting of improved landing statistics to the Black Sea Commission and FAO |
Knowledge of the state and fluctuations of the exploited stocks improved; Effective control/improved statistical system for data collection
Improved methodologies developed and agreed by all 6 countries
Improved fisheries data collection, reporting and assessment |
3-4 years
5-6 years
5-6 years |
Adoption of national requirements for collection and processing of fishery statistics |
Methodologies developed and accepted by all 6 countries for harmonised stock assessments to be undertaken and improved landing statistics to be collected
Reporting of improved statistics to the Black Sea Commission and FAO
|
High |
Political will to establish common system Differences in scientific community Conflict of interest between stakeholders |
Capacity-building of regulatory/enforcement authorities |
||||||
(3). Increase resources to regulatory bodies responsible for fisheries management |
Increased protection of marine living resources |
1 – 5 years |
Yes |
Number of staff employed in enforcement activities |
Medium |
Political willingness Financing
|
EcoQO 1b: Restore/rehabilitate stocks of commercial marine living resources.
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
||||||||||
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
||||||||||||||||
Management, Policy and Legislation |
||||||||||||||||
(4). Improved regionally-agreed system to match fishing efforts to stocks |
Common prohibition periods/terms for shared and migratory stocks; Harmonised scientific approach and standardized regulations |
3-6 years |
Yes |
See EcoQO 1a, Target (2)
See EcoQO 1a, Target (1) |
High |
Political will to established common system Differences in scientific community Conflict of interest between stakeholders |
||||||||||
(5). Ban on non–precautionary fishing technologies in force (notably dredging and bottom trawling
Short-term target Mid/long-term targets
Effectiveness of ban assessed |
Protection of benthic environment (improved habitats for reproduction of demersal fish and invertebrates Ban of unsustainable fishing practices
Draft agreement developed
Agreement adopted and ratified Surveys of known impacted zones to assess recovery |
3 years
6 years
10+ years |
Yes |
Document drafted
Document signed by all countries Number/scope of surveys funded and undertaken |
High/ Medium |
Effective Control Interest of stakeholders |
||||||||||
(6). Introduce instruments including management, economic and legal to ensure increased production from environmentally friendly mariculture to encourage a decrease in fishing effort. |
Decreased fishing effort on natural living resources Increased production from mariculture – impact assessment on the environment |
5 years |
|
Significantly increased production from environmental friendly mariculture |
High/ Medium |
Negative effect of aquaculture on the environment |
||||||||||
(7). Develop regulations aimed at decreasing by-catch level
Short-term target Mid-term target |
Low levels of by-catch/discards; |
3 years
7 years
|
Yes |
By-catch levels are low or negligible
Agreement established
Number of vessel inspections undertaken Biomass of enforced discards |
High / Medium |
By-catch is strongly related to net mesh size. Small net sizes are required for small fish, such as anchovy and sprat, the landings of which are overwhelmingly Turkish. Actions would therefore require a substantial change in Turkish fisheries management. |
||||||||||
(8). Elaborate and implement measures for increasing of the fish recruitment for the protection of juvenile commercial fish Short-term targets
Establish and introduce closed seasons for demersal fish
|
Properly managing the exploitation of the stock
Introduction of closed nursery areas
Introduction of closed seasons for turbot and other demersal fish |
4 years
4 years |
Yes |
Measures elaborated and agreed by all countries
Juvenile stocks increase Area of closed nursery waters Closed seasons introduced |
Medium |
Establishment of flexible approach for introduction of a closed season and closed areas |
||||||||||
(9). Minimise ghost fishing caused by discarded, abandoned or lost fixed and floating nets, including those used in illegal/unregulated fishing activities |
Amendment to draft LBD on fisheries, identifying national enforcement agencies responsible for the collection and, disposal of abandoned fishing gear, and where appropriate, penalisation of offending parties |
5-10 years |
Yes |
Draft amendment produced. Amendment agreed and ratified by all 6 countries Number/length/area of discarded nets recovered |
Medium |
This represents a further layer of complication to acceptance of the LBD on Fisheries. Therefore, proposed as an amendment to this document once it has been accepted. Dependent on initial signing and, ratification of the draft fisheries LBD |
||||||||||
Monitoring |
||||||||||||||||
(10). Develop and introduce methodologies to assess the condition of populations of commercial marine living resources
Short-term target Mid-term target |
Proper management of marine resources
Document written and agreement reached
Annual assessments made
|
2 years
7 years
|
|
Established regionally agreed set of indicators
First assessment made by the Black Sea Commission on the basis of raw data provided by individual countries |
Medium |
Agreement of national scientists on basis of scheme |
||||||||||
EcoQO 2: Conservation of Black Sea Biodiversity and Habitats
EcoQO 2a: Reduce the risk of extinction of threatened species
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
|||||||
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
|||||||||||||
|
Management, Policy and Legislation |
||||||||||||
|
11). Finalise and adopt the regional SAP for Black Sea Biodiversity, and undertake 5 yearly regional update of the list of conservation status of threatened coastal and marine species as well as list of critical habitats for these species |
Finalised and adopted regional Biodiversity Strategy Development of National plans Regularly updated Red List of species and List of critical habitats Electronic version of updated BS Red Data Book of species on the web page of the BS Commission |
|
Reflects the regional SAP for biodiversity in national policies, |
Approved SAP for Black Sea Biodiversity Reduced number of threatened species and increase in their abundance. Red list of species and BS Red Data Electronic Book updated every 5 years Number of species evaluated according to IUCN criteria, categories and regional guidelines Reduced number and area of critical habitats |
High |
Regional Agreement may not be signed |
||||||
|
Short-term targets Red list updated in 2 years time |
|
5 years |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Mid-term target |
|
2 years |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
Long-term target |
|
4 years
12 years |
|
|
|
|
||||||
|
(12). All six BS countries to adopt a regional Conservation Plan for Black Sea endangered species and develop national action plans |
Regional survey. Assess species requiring conservation plan. Development of stranding network, by- catch network and network of MPAs eligible for cetaceans conservation. |
5-10 years |
Yes |
The regional Plan is approved by the BSC National Plans developed Endangered species abundance, distribution and threats assessed Established national and transboundary MPAs; Methodology developed to reduce significant by-catches of cetaceans |
Medium |
Political acceptance Availability of necessary funds for its implementation in each BS country |
||||||
|
Climate change |
||||||||||||
|
(13). Assess impacts of climate change on Black Sea ecosystem and sustainable development of the coastal population |
Knowledge on the impacts of climate change improved |
3-5 years |
No |
Comprehensive study on the consequences of climate change in the Black Sea region |
Medium/ Low |
Options to address the causes of climate change lie in the development of national programmes and multi-national agreements, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (incorporating the Kyoto Protocol) Differences in scientific community |
||||||
EcoQO 2b: Conserve coastal and marine habitats and landscapes
| MANAGEMENT TARGET | ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
|||||||
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
|||||||||||||
|
Management, Policy and Legislation |
||||||||||||
|
(14). Consider the necessity of creation of new and/or expansion of existing protected areas, including transboundary areas in consultation with the relevant Black Sea coastal countries with particular attention to the marine protected areas Short-term target
Mid-term target |
A sufficient number, size and network of coastal and marine BS PAs, to ensure the conservation of natural ecosystems and processes ensuring long term continuity between areas
Methodology developed for identification, characterisation and assessment of the areas of high regional importance (potential protected areas)
List of recommended areas for designation as protected. |
5 years
5-7 years |
Yes |
Number and total area of marine and coastal PA’s increased :
|
Funding Political acceptance
|
|||||||
|
(15). Further recognise and implement integrated coastal zone management principles
Short–term target |
Common understanding of what ICZM is and how to apply it Clear boundaries of the coastal zone eliminate uncertainties about responsibilities Acceptance that conservation of coastal habitats and species is of equal relevance to socio-economic development |
5 years
|
Yes |
Number of policies, plans or legislative acts related to the coast that reflect ICZM principles
BS Regional ICZM Guidelines written and accepted |
Political acceptance Financial constraints
|
|||||||
|
(16). Develop and disseminate information, training and education materials on ICZM in regional languages, referring to coastal biodiversity conservation Short-term target |
Increased awareness of stakeholders to the benefits of ICZM and coastal biodiversity conservation
|
1 – 3 years
3-6 years |
No
|
Number of publications produced and disseminated
Number of training workshops held
|
Openness of existing institutions to integrate ICZM teaching content into curriculum Support by Ministries of Education
|
|||||||
|
(17). Regionally converge Environmental Statement, Environmental Impact Assessment and Strategic Environmental Assessment procedures
Short-term target
Mid-term target |
Revision of preliminary plans/ programmes with unacceptable consequences for coastal biodiversity Spatial plans balance different coastal uses, including biodiversity conservation in a fair manner
Agreement on a list of assessment indicators
Agreement on assessment methodology |
3 years
7 years |
Yes |
EA/EIA/SEA procedures for the Black Sea region Number of EIA and SEA studies conducted in accordance with regional guidance/national legislation
Harmonised guidance document produced and agreed to by all 6 coastal countries National legislation developed/adapted to take account of regional guidance document |
Enforcement Financial constraints |
|||||||
|
(18). Amend national waste strategies and national coastal zone management plans with the aim of marine litter minimisation
Short-term target Mid-term targets Amendments to national strategies incorporated into local, costal and landfill site management plans
|
Reduced input of land-derived solid waste to the marine environment |
1-3 years
3-6 years
3-10 years
|
Change in strategy, if not policy |
Amendments incorporated into national strategies
Number of illegal costal dumping sites cleaned-up
Changes in strategies incorporated in national/local coastal management plans Number of operational plans at regulated river/coastal landfill sites amended to reduce input of solid waste to rivers or directly to the Black Sea |
Costs very difficult to estimate. National waste strategies exist, but not clear whether costal zone management plans exist for all coastal regions |
|||||||
|
(19). Develop regional and national marine litter monitoring and assessment methodologies on the basis of common research approaches, evaluation criteria and reporting requirements
|
Improved quantification of marine litter and identification of sources, allowing improved prosecution of offenders |
1-6 years |
Yes, policy at least |
Regional guidance produced and distributed by BSC. National programmes developed, funded and operational Results reported to BSC for incorporation within a regional marine litter database |
Likely to require extensive involvement of NGO community/volunteers to prevent costs from escalating
|
|||||||
|
(20). Promote/develop investment projects within national strategies/local plans to engineer, construct and install new solid waste recycling facilities and incineration plants, complying with BAT regulations |
Improved recycling/ incineration of solid waste, resulting in reduced solid waste for disposal to landfill and reduced atmospheric emissions from incinerators |
Continuous improvement over 15+ years |
|
No of project outlines developed No. of projects financed No. of projects completed |
Projects need to be cost-efficient and “bankable” |
|||||||
|
Monitoring |
||||||||||||
|
(21). Monitor and facilitate the progress in the implementation of nationally developed management plans for designated protected areas |
Regional assessment of the progress of the management of BS protected area |
1-5 years |
Yes |
Approved Management plans printed and/or placed on web site(s) Improved state of the protected areas |
High |
Financing for implementation and enforcement Low level of enforcement |
||||||
|
(22). Develop an inventory, classification and a mapping system for BS habitats |
Improved knowledge of BS habitats GIS maps and list of BS threatened habitats |
1-7 years |
|
Approval of classification system by the scientific communities in the BS region Inventory and classification of coastal and marine habitats completed and published BS Habitats Maps available on the web page of the BSC Regularly (5 years) updated list of the BS threatened habitats on the web page of the BSC |
High / Medium |
Acceptance of proposed classification system by individual countries and BSC Availability of funds for each BS country |
||||||
|
(23). Identify and make an inventory of Black Sea landscapes of high natural, historical, cultural and aesthetic value |
Regionally agreed guidelines for identification and characterization of the BS landscapes Improved knowledge of the |
1 -10 years |
No |
BS landscapes of high natural, historical, cultural and natural, Natural, historical, cultural and aesthetic value of key landscapes identified Inventory completed |
Medium |
Political acceptance
|
||||||
|
(24). Undertake preliminary regional assessment of coastal erosion |
Preliminary assessment would identify sites of high erosion/deposition, consider impacts and options for management (sea defence construction, artificial beach nourishment, managed retreat, etc.) |
3 years |
No, but report should include recommendations for regional/ national policy development |
Report produced, including recommendations |
Low |
Expensive and complex issue to address fully Identified in the initial stages of the TDA process as being primarily a multi-national, rather than transboundary issue. Therefore given a low priority. Potential funding for regional project currently being sought by BSC Permanent Secretariat |
||||||
|
Capacity-building of monitoring staff |
||||||||||||
|
(25). Support coordinated scientific studies, increase resources to marine scientists and improve capacity particularly through targeted training programmes supporting scientific projects/programmes |
Increased knowledge of BS ecology/chemistry |
1 – 5 years |
Yes |
National budgets allocated to BSIMAP-participating laboratories to undertake BSIMAP-specific monitoring, Number of BSIMAP-participating staff attending capacity-building events (training workshops, conferences, etc.) |
High/ Medium |
Financing
|
||||||
EcoQO 2c: Reduce and manage human mediated species introductions
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
||||||
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
||||||||||||
|
Management, Policy and Legislation |
|||||||||||
|
(26). Promote cooperation in the Black Sea in line with principles and recommendations of the International Convention for the Control and Management of Ships' Ballast Water and Sediments |
Overview of BS states national legislation relevant to ballast water management |
1-2 years |
Yes |
Level of compliance with the provisions of the BWM Convention |
High |
Low enforcement of existing national legislations on introduction of new exotic species |
|||||
|
(27). Harmonise ballast water procedures using IMO guidelines |
Agreed areas of exchange and amount of exchanged waters, agreed controls of ballast waters in ports Enhanced control of transfer of alien species |
1-5 years |
Yes |
Harmonised national legislations on ballast water exchanging control |
High |
|
|||||
|
(28). Identify actions towards ratification of the BWM Convention in the BS region |
Road map to reduce the risk of alien species invasion |
1-7 years |
National plans for BWM management |
Road map produced and acted upon |
High |
Political acceptance |
|||||
EcoQO 3: Reduce eutrophication
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
|||||
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
|||||||||||
|
Nutrient Management Policies |
||||||||||
|
(29). Implement integrated river basin management and integrated coastal zone management approaches, as stated in revised LBSA protocol Short-term target Mid/Long-term target |
Revised LBSA protocol ratified by all BS countries Adoption of a River Basin based’ approach to managing eutrophication |
2 years
4-15 years |
Yes |
Adoption of LBSA protocol Introduction of River Basin Management (RBM) principles in BS basin by all countries, with appropriate reporting through the BSC |
High |
Political acceptance of LBSA protocol Financing to implement catchment management throughout basin |
||||
|
(30). Introduce cost efficiency approach to nutrient management in all BS countries |
Reduced costs to tackle the issue of excessive nutrient emissions. |
6-7years |
Possibly |
Studies undertaken in all BS countries to identify cost efficient approaches |
Medium |
Acceptance by all BS countries of methodology National resources available to implement national studies. Countries will still have to comply with existing national legislation, even if this requires them to undertake a more a more expensive approach to nutrient pollution management |
||||
|
(31). Upgrade all WWTPs serving populations > 200,000 p.e. within the six BS country sub-basins to include N&P removal Short-term target
Mid/Long-term target |
Overall: reduced nutrient loads from WWTPs.
Priority list prepared for investments
Upgraded WWTPs |
2 years
9 -20 years |
No |
Priority lists of WWTPs for upgrade Financing plans developed.
Number of identified WWTPs upgraded |
High/ |
Political acceptance Financing availability |
||||
|
(32). Ensure all tourist resorts are connected to sewerage systems with WWTPs of adequate capacity to address seasonal loads |
Reduced loads of N/P etc. and improved bathing water on beaches Improved environmental sustainability of tourism sector Priority lists for upgrading sewerage connections and / WWTPs in tourist centres |
|
No |
Reduced marine pollution and improved bathing water quality |
Medium/ High |
Agreement to protect tourist centres from civil wastewater Financing availability |
||||
|
Short-term target s Preparation of national priority lists for investments |
(See EcoQO 4 – Chemical Pollution) |
2 years |
|
Prioritised list for upgrading sewerage and WWTPs in tourist centres |
|
|
||||
|
Long-term target |
|
10 – 20 years |
|
Identified priorities incorporated into national finance plans |
|
|
||||
|
(33). Ensure that all industrial plants have adequate wastewater treatment to reduce N&P emissions from direct discharge to surface waters
Short-term target Long-term target |
Hot-spots from industrial discharges identified Reduced N/P discharged |
1 year
10 – 20 years |
No |
Updated hot-spot analysis for BS region
Agreement of prioritised list of industrial discharges to be addressed
Agreed financing plan (private, national and international sources) Completion of investments to reduce industrial discharges |
High / Medium |
Lack of agreement on priorities Insufficient legal resources to encourage industries to comply Funding |
||||
(34). Reduce or phase out the use of high P-containing laundry detergents
Mid-term target Long-term target |
Significantly reduced P loads (>20% reduced from domestic sources) to the BS Developed strategies in each country to address high-P laundry detergents
|
6-7 years
10+ years |
Yes |
Low-P products available for consumers
Reduced P loads discharged from WWTPs High-P-containing laundry detergents no longer sold |
High |
Opposition from industry (P producers and possibly detergent manufacturers) Political acceptance of the benefits |
(35). Introduce harmonized P and N standards for all WWTPs serving >100,000 p.e. Ensure compliance with and harmonise standards at regional level
Short-term target
Long-term target |
Reduced N/P emissions through improved management and enforcement of standards Agreed quantitative nutrient discharge standards
|
2 years
10 + years |
Yes |
Standards agreed Monitoring results show reductions and compliance with standards Prosecution numbers of dischargers failing to meet standards |
Medium |
Political acceptance of standards Resources available for monitoring and enforcement Resources available to ensure WWTPs are upgraded where necessary |
(36). Reduce atmospheric emissions of N from municipal, agricultural and industrial sources, though the introduction of BAT, BAP principles etc. |
Reduced atmospheric deposition of N in BS; (Link with EcoQO – Chemical Pollution) |
10+ years |
Yes |
Lists of sites where N emissions are established |
High/ Medium |
Uncertainty over % N derived from atmospheric sources Resources needed to undertake modelling studies and implement monitoring network |
Monitoring and Modelling |
||||||
(37). Harmonise the monitoring and assessment of N&P in major rivers and straits
Short-term target Mid-term target |
Improved knowledge of N/P loads discharged into the Black Sea enabling improvements to be readily identified and reported to the BSC and other stakeholders.
Agreed procedures recommended for adoption and implementation
All countries adopt harmonised procedures for monitoring nutrient loads discharged to the Black Sea (Link with EcoQO – Chemical Pollution) |
2 years
10 years |
Yes |
Agreement by all countries to adopt common procedures for nutrient load monitoring and reporting with common QC/QA procedures All countries undertake and report agreed data to the BSC Trend analysis on nutrient loads utilised by policy makers within 10 years of all countries undertaking monitoring. |
High |
Regional agreement on procedures Funding to undertake monitoring |
(38) Improve network of atmospheric deposition monitoring stations around the Black Sea coast (at least 1 per country)
Short-term target Long-term target |
Better understanding of the estimates of atmospheric deposited pollutants enabling more reliable management decisions to be taken at sources of pollutants (Link with EcoQO 4 – Chemical Pollutants) |
5 years
10 + years |
No |
Monitoring network agreement
Monitoring implemented Results from atmospheric deposition of N reported by all countries regularly to the BSC |
Medium |
Need for agreement on procedures etc. Funding to establish and operate monitoring network |
(39). Develop a nutrient modelling tool to enable source apportionment estimates to be made Short-term target Mid-term target |
An agreed modelling tool for all major rivers discharging into the Black Sea |
2 years
10 years |
No |
Agreed specification and functionality of model
Countries provide data to test / validate model Model used to assist policy makers address nutrient hot spots |
Medium |
Agreement on modelling approach Acceptance of model outputs by all countries Data availability to test and operate model Financing for development and operation of model |
Agricultural sources of nutrients |
||||||
(40). Improve the use of regulatory instruments for reducing point and diffuse source pollution from agriculture
Mid-term target Long-term target |
Clear definition for each country of the minimum standards of farm management to reduce the risk of nutrient pollution e.g. closed periods for application of fertiliser/manure to land, restrictions on application rates, minimum storage requirements for manure etc. Full compliance of farmers with these regulations |
5-6 years
10+ years for all farmers to fully comply with regulations |
Yes – in some countries. . |
Definition of national minimum farming standards Development and legal adoption of new/improved regulations Level of compliance with new/improved regulations Level of investment in new/improved manure storage facilities |
High |
Common understanding and Financing Continued donor support |
(41). Where financial resources are available and greatest possible extent, introduce appropriate economic incentives to reduce nutrient emissions from agriculture
Mid-term target Long-term target |
Where financial resources are available, introduction of incentive schemes (e.g. agri-environment type payments) to encourage farmers to go beyond the minimum standard of agricultural pollution control and introduce specific management practices for the further reduction of nutrient losses Participation of farmers in these incentive schemes Effective impact of schemes upon water quality, particularly in areas most vulnerable to high nutrient losses
|
6 years depending on country
10+ years depending on country |
Yes – in some countries In BG and RO significant reforms have already been made to use available funds from the EU Common Agricultural Policy |
Total funds available for incentive schemes Effective absorption of available funding resources
Number of farmers participating in incentive schemes Area of land with modified farming practices e.g. the increased use of crop rotations, re-integration of grazing livestock into specialised crop production systems (traditional mixed farming systems), introduction of legumes as substitute for fertiliser nitrogen, sowing of winter cover crops, creation of uncropped buffer zones, preparation of nutrient management plans etc. |
High/ |
Common understanding and Providing economic incentives is an expensive policy instrument and must be well-targeted to ensure effective use of available resources Farming practices promoted for reducing nutrient losses must be cost-effective for farmers or uptake will be limited Continuation of donor support for agricultural pollution control projects is very important in some countries Promotion and uptake of schemes requires effective agricultural advisory services, but capacity of these can be limited |
(42). Develop and expand the capacity of national agricultural extension services for promoting the control of agricultural pollution
Mid-term targets Effective communication of key advisory messages for reducing agricultural nutrient losses by national agricultural extension services |
Simple, key advisory messages and supporting advisory materials/guidelines for farmers available in all local languages of Black Sea region Publication of recommendations on fertiliser application rates for individual crops Development of a) appropriate advisory tools and b) new advisory facilities to promote good practice for reducing nutrient losses from agriculture
|
5-6 years depending on country |
Yes – will vary between countries, but considerable reform of existing agricultural advisory services are necessary in some countries |
Number of staff employed in agricultural advisory services
Advisory materials/guidelines printed e.g. Codes of Good Agricultural Practice for Protection of Water Local training courses for advisers implemented New advisory tools and facilities developed e.g. farm gate nutrient balances, nutrient management plans, farmer awareness events, farm visits/open days, farm demonstration projects, etc. Number of farm visits undertaken |
High |
Common understanding and Continuation of donor support for agricultural pollution control projects is very important in some countries Many projects/activities have already been conducted in Black Sea countries on the reduction of agricultural pollution, an inventory of these would be very useful for identifying the best examples/models to follow |
(43). Promote organic farming and other low input farming systems
Short-term target Mid-term target |
Advisory materials/ guidelines for organic farming and other low input farming systems (e.g. EUREPGAP etc.) available in all local languages of Black Sea region Relevant legislation for organic farming developed and fully harmonised with international standards Increased uptake of organic farming methods and other low input farming systems
|
1-3 years
3-10 years depending on country |
Yes – will vary between countries depending upon progress to-date to harmonise legislation, develop inspection and certification systems etc. |
Production and distribution of educational materials
Development and legal adoption of new/improved regulations for organic production Area of agricultural land under certified organic production or other recognised low input farming system Total sales of organic products Total sales of products from other recognised low input farming systems e.g. EUREPGAP etc. |
Medium |
Common understanding and Technical difficulties associated with conversion to organic farming Availability of advice from agricultural extension services Uncertainties of the market for organic products
|
(44). Develop/define BAT for the design and operation of large-scale agro-industrial livestock production units, including pig and poultry farms with no land
Short-term target Mid-term target:
|
Improved control of nutrient content of livestock feed. Technical in-plant measures for the reduction of waste water volume and pollution load Reduction of nutrient emissions by end-of-pipe measures Improved environmental management e.g. improved disposal of livestock waste to land, close co-operation with environmental authorities etc. |
3-5 years for regulatory framework 6-10 years to fully introduce/ enforce
|
Yes |
Regulations drafted and adopted in all 6 Black Sea countries
Number of agro-industrial production units modernised with a) technical in-plant measures e.g. separation of solid and liquid wastes, modification of livestock feed, mechanical cleaning rather than cleaning with liquids etc. and b) end-of-pipe installations |
High / Medium |
Common understanding and Low-nutrient animal feeds could have higher costs Availability of financial resources for investment in BAT |
EcoQO 4: Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota
EcoQO 4a: Reduce pollutants originating from land based sources, including atmospheric pollutions
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
||
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
||||||||
Policy / Legislation |
||||||||
(45). All BS states agree to implement provisions of the revised LBSA Protocol to the BS Convention |
LBSA protocol ratified by all 6 countries. |
1 -2 years following signature by all six BS Countries |
Yes |
Approval of the final text of the LBSA Protocol by the BSC Adoption of LBSA protocol by all 6 coastal countries. |
High. |
Dependant on signing Political negotiations could impact the recommended river basin management approach |
||
(46). Strengthen enforcement of national/regional and international regulations on land – based pollution sources |
Full compliance with the provisions of environmental legislation in and by each country |
5–10 years |
Yes |
Level of compliance with regulations Number of permits/licenses granted Number of inspections undertaken |
High/ Medium |
Political acceptance Regional inconsistency in terms of approaches; Financing for implementation and enforcement |
||
Economic instruments |
||||||||
(47). Develop economic mechanisms for chemical pollution control |
Regionally harmonised economic mechanisms promoting, for example, BAT/BAP, recycling etc. |
10 years |
|
P-free detergent sales increased (see Target (36)) Number of farmers applying BAP Number of installation using BAT Well functioning advisory services |
High |
Political acceptance of economic instruments |
||
(48). Introduce and disseminate the concept of BAP and BEP as a tool for encouraging farmers to deliver the highest level of on-farm pollution control
Short–term target
Mid–term target |
Published guidelines on BAP and BEP concept for the Black Sea Region Appropriate activities to introduce BAP and BEP concept to relevant governmental institutions, NGOs and donors Black Sea countries agree to adopt BAP and BEP concept
Inclusion of BAP and BEP concept in national strategies for protection and rehabilitation of the Black Sea
Development of integrated programmes for reducing agricultural pollution at local/national level (depending on nature/scale of pollution problems) with a mix of regulatory, advisory and economic measures (where resources are available) Greater public awareness and transparency regarding agricultural pollution |
1-5 years
5-10 years |
Yes – will vary between countries, but various reforms may be necessary to |
Guidelines developed in all countries in local languages Guidelines printed and/or placed on website(s) Number of regional/national dissemination workshops held Number of integrated pollution control programmes adopted – including new/improved regulations, economic incentives (where resources available) and strengthened extension services Improved dialogue between Environment and Agricultural ministries through inter-ministerial meetings
|
High
|
Common understanding and acceptance of the BAP and BEP concept Selection of appropriate experts Inter-ministry cooperation needs to be established /improved between agricultural and environment ministries Enforcement of regulations Funding available to assist dissemination of BAP and BEP concept and to encourage implementation by farmer |
||
Pollution Management Policies |
||||||||
(49). Introduce BAT and BEP for the most polluting industries in all BS countries
Mid-term targets Identify priority industries to implement BAT and BEP Provide training to priority industries on BAT and BEP
Long-long-term target |
BS Countries Agree to implement BAT and BEP Environmental Management Systems implemented; Reduced industrial pollution |
6 years
10-15 years |
Yes
|
National environmental legislation developed/adopted List of most polluting industries established Agreed priority list of industrial sites to implement BAT and BEP.
National/regional database of polluting industrial plants established and populated with metadata Reduced pollutant emissions Investments made on clean technologies |
High/ Medium
|
Political acceptance; Financing Lack of enforcement of environmental legislation; Inter-ministry cooperation may be insufficient Low involvement/ willingness of stakeholders |
||
(50). Harmonise environmental quality standards throughout the Black Sea region and elaborate regionally agreed criteria for assessment of the state of the Black Sea environment
Short-term target Mid-term target |
Improved assessment of loads entering the Black Sea and the quality of the marine environment Establishment of reference conditions and corresponding classification system for identification of good ecological status of the Black Sea |
2-3 years
5-10 years |
No |
Agreement of all 6 countries to use a standard operational procedure for the measurement and calculation of loads discharged from point sources of pollution (including rivers) into the Black Sea |
High
|
Acceptance of proposed standards /methodology by individual countries and the BSC. |
||
Environmental Monitoring |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
(51). Develop/improve the existing monitoring system to provide comparable data sets for pollutant loads (from direct discharges and river inputs) and for other parameters |
Improved knowledge of pollution loads to the Sea. |
5 years |
Yes |
Acceptance of method(s) by all countries Agreement of all 6 countries to participate in (and fully fund) a harmonised monitoring programme, including equipment and staffing costs Operational national quality assurance programmes for the inter-comparison / inter-calibration of chemical concentration and flow data from point sources All agreed raw data and annual loads regularly reported to the BSC |
High |
Staffing/cost issues Technical issues over parameters to be measured in some countries. |
||
(52). Improve the “list of Black Sea-specific priority pollutants” to help target monitoring priorities |
Harmonised monitoring strategy of the marine environment and point (including rivers) and diffuse sources of pollution |
2 years |
Yes |
Agreement of all 6 countries to use the list of priority pollutants BSIMAP updated/revised accordingly. |
High / Medium |
Staffing/Costs /technical issues |
||
Rehabilitation / construction |
||||||||
(53). Continue/improve rehabilitation /construction of wastewater treatment plants
Short-term target Mid-long-term target |
List of project proposals cleared Reduced loads of pollutants from major point sources discharging directly or indirectly (via rivers). |
1 – 5 years
5– 20 years
|
Yes
No |
List of investments established
Investments made (DABLAS) Reduced loads of nutrients, BOD, etc. |
High |
Political willingness Encouragement and enforcement of industries to upgrade WWTP Financing |
||
Capacity building |
|
|
|
|
|
|
||
(54). Optimise and/or increase resources to regulatory bodies responsible for pollution control and improve capacity through targeted training programmes |
Build capacity of environmental authorities for enforcing regulations to control discharges from both point and diffuse sources |
1- 5 years |
Yes |
Number of staff responsible for pollution control Budget allocated for pollution control Number of staff participating in training courses, workshops, etc. |
High / Medium |
Political acceptance Financing
|
||
EcoQO 4b: Reduce pollutants originating from shipping activities and offshore installations
MANAGEMENT TARGET |
ANTICIPATED OUTPUTS |
aTIME |
bREFORMS |
cINDICATORRS |
dPRIORITY |
UNCERTAINTIES |
aTime required to implement, bLegal, institutional or policy reforms required, cIndicators of success, dRelative priority: high, medium, or low, |
||||||
Policy/legislation |
||||||
(55). Adopt the Black Sea Contingency Plan to the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in emergency situations (Part I – Response to oil pollution) |
Adoption of the Plan by all 6 Black Sea Countries |
1- 2 years |
Georgia, Ukraine and Russia |
Adoption of the Plan at national levels |
High/ Medium |
Political acceptance |
(56). Develop and adopt Part II (Chemical Plan)of the Black Sea Contingency Plan to the Protocol on Cooperation in Combating Pollution of the Black Sea by Oil and Other Harmful Substances in Emergency Situations Short-term target Mid-term target |
Part II developed ,agreed and adopted by all BS countries |
2-3 years
4 -8 years |
Yes |
Part II of the Plan finalised and sent to countries for adoption
Part II of the Plan is adopted by all 6 Black Sea Countries |
High |
Political acceptance Financing |
(57). Establish an inter-state ministerial mechanism to enable a quick response to major pollution events |
National Contingency Plans, covering both vessels and off-shore installations in place and coordinated between the Black Sea Countries
|
Yes |
National authorities/ institutions/ The mechanisms for intervention, information exchange, etc. in place National/regional contingency action plan published and operational Scheduled oil spills preparedness and response exercises, including bi-annual DELTA exercises, agreed by countries |
High / Medium |
Financing Lack of operational equipment |
|
(58). Adopt and enforce relevant international legal instruments for safety navigation, pollution prevention, limitation of liability and compensation
Short-term target Mid-term target |
Ratification/accession/ adoption of MARPOL 73/78 (Annexes III, IV&VI) , AFS by all six Black Sea Countries |
3 – 5 years
5 – 10 years |
Yes |
Assessment of ratification and effective application and enforcement of relevant legal instruments All 6 Black Sea Countries are parties to the relevant legal instruments and apply an harmonized system of enforcement Ratification of legal instruments
Documented enforcement of legal instruments |
High/ Medium |
Political acceptance Financing; |
(59). Improved regulations/ management of dredging/ dumping activities |
Reduced transfer of dangerous pollutants into the marine environment by dumping Improved reporting to the BSC of the dredging operations and deposit sites |
5-6 years |
Yes |
Number of permits for dredging/disposal to the Sea; |
Medium |
No standardised analytical methodologies for analysis of sediments No internationally agreed guidelines for the identification of appropriate dumping sites |
Waste management |
||||||
(60). Provide adequate port reception facilities for ship-generated wastes according to MARPOL 73/78, Annex I, IV, V. |
Reduction of illegal discharges of ship-generated waste, including oily mixtures, noxious liquid substances, sewage, garbage and cargo residues into the Black Sea marine environment |
3-10 years |
Yes |
Increased disposal and treatment of ship-generated wastes and cargo residues in full compliance with MARPOL 73/78 Management Plans for Ship Generated –Waste and cargo residues published/ implemented in all BS Ports Investments Annual Report to the BSC on port’s ship waste management 3 Years assessment report of the Black Sea State of Environment |
High / Medium/ |
Financing; Low cooperation between authorities and shipping industry Low level of involvement of stakeholders in the decision-making process |
(61). Establish a harmonised fee/cost recovery system on ship-generated waste |
Reduction of illegal discharges of ship-generated waste |
1-3 years |
Yes |
Regionally harmonised cost recovery/fee system in place.
|
High / Medium |
Political acceptance |
Surveillance/Monitoring |
||||||
(62). Develop systems for the identification of illegal pollution sources from vessels and off-shore installations
Mid-term target
Long-term target |
Reduced illicit chemical and solid waste discharges |
5-10 years for oil pollution
10+ years for solid waste |
Yes, a change in policy at least |
VTOPIS or equivalent systems implemented and operational in all Black Sea countries to support national Governments in surveillance of vessels traffic and in reducing/eliminating the pollution originating from vessels, including off-shore installations System operational
System operational |
Medium
|
Financing availability Link to remote sensing data sources for real-time monitoring. Radar required to identify source locations, but satellite remote imagery required for the identification of pollutants themselves. Unclear whether flotsam and jetsam can be viewed using satellite remote imagery May be necessary to use aircraft for marine litter identification , which is likely to be prohibitively expensive. |
Economic mechanisms/instruments |
||||||
(63).. Develop/establish a harmonised enforcement system in cases of illegal discharges from vessels and off-shore installations, including technical means and fines |
Infringement of discharge regulations as well as aiding, abetting or inciting an illegal discharge is punishable |
3-5 years |
Yes |
A harmonised system of penalties established and enforced Effective, proportionate and dissuasive |
High / Medium |
Political acceptance Financing Limited effectiveness of economic incentive mechanisms Inter-ministry cooperation needed. |
(64). Develop a common system for claims management for pollution damages compensation |
Common and effective policy on claims management |
1-3 years |
Yes |
Common procedures and panel of experts, databases, etc. |
Medium |
Political acceptance Inter-institutional cooperation needed |
(65). Assess the need to develop a legal framework for assessment of the transportation of hazardous wastes in line with Basel Convention |
Regional Studies of the movement of Transboundary hazardous waste. Decision on the necessity of development of the Protocol on Hazardous Waste. |
3-6 years |
Yes, a change in policy at least |
|
Medium / High |
Inter-institutional cooperation needed Political acceptance |
Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) indicators are tools to monitor and verify SAP implementation. Therefore, it is necessary to elaborate an indicator set that will measure progress towards the successful outcome of the EcoQOs and the short and long term management targets. GEF establishes three types of indicators: a) process indicators, b) stress reduction indicators and c) environmental status indicators:
a) Process Indicators focus on the processes or outputs that are likely to lead towards a desirable outcome. They demonstrate actual on-the-ground institutional, political, legislative and regulatory progress in resolving the transboundary problems in the Black Sea. They should assist in tracking the institutional, policy, legislative and regulatory reforms necessary to bring about change.
b) Stress reduction indicators relate to project objectives or outcomes. In particular, they focus on concrete actions that reduce environmental stress. Stress reduction indicators indicate the rate of success of specific on-the-ground actions implemented by the collaborating Black Sea countries. Often a combination of stress reduction indicators in several nations will be needed to produce detectable changes in transboundary waters.
c) Environmental state indicators are goal orientated and focus on actual improvements of ecosystem quality that usually extends beyond the lifetime of the project. They are measures of actual success in restoring or protecting the targeted waterbody. It can take a number of years before sufficient stress reduction measures are implemented in a sufficient number of countries to detect an environmental state change in the transboundary water environment.
In order to accurately measure environmental state indicators, the collaborating Black Sea countries will need to fully harmonise their sampling/laboratory/analysis methods so that they all agree on what water quality, quantity, or ecosystem parameters that should be sampled to track progress toward a goal.
A detailed set of management targets and indicators are presented in the EcoQOs (Annex 1) that give the short, medium and long-term perspective on the actions needed. A set of preliminary M&E indicators to measure the success of Strategic Actions Plan implementation are proposed below.
Process Indicators
Stress Reduction Indicators
Environmental Status Indicators
