Marine and River Litter Elimination New Approach

Burgas is about to become a national and European center of research for the study of flora and fauna in the Black Sea. This is the ambition of the Municipality of Burgas and the University "Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov ”, who are implementing a joint project to protect the Burgas Bay from pollution. It was entitled "Increasing knowledge of the marine environment for sustainable management of marine resources and achieving the goals of blue growth" and was presented at an online press conference.

It was attended by the Chairperson of the Parliamentary Committee on Environment and Water Ivelina Vasileva and Prof. Sevdalina Turmanova from the University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov ”and Chairman of the Municipal Council in Burgas.

Detailed research on sea water pollution will be carried out at 6 points in the Burgas Bay, where there is a strong impact on human activity. Among them are the coast of Sarafovo and Kraimorie, the area of the island of St. Anastasia and the beaches in Burgas.

The collected information will be summarized in a detailed map. The data will be used to formulate strategies and activities to minimize pollution of the Black Sea.

The collection of information will be done with the help of a special device for underwater activities. It will capture waste on both the water surface and the seabed.

To reduce plastic pollution, the Municipality of Burgas plans to create a "blue label". It will be given to those establishments that stop using such disposable utensils and containers. The establishments that receive the "blue label" will be presented as an example of good environmental practices during conferences on the environment and tourism.

As part of the measures for management of the human impact on the marine environment, the University "Prof. Dr. Assen Zlatarov" will open a new discipline "Polymer pollutants in the marine environment" to the master programs "Ecology and Environmental Protection", "Ecology and environmental management ” and “ Technology of materials and materials science ”. The creation of the discipline is connected with the analysis and classification of polymers in sea waters and the conduct of seasonal monitoring.

The project "Increasing knowledge of the marine environment for sustainable management of marine resources and achieving the goals of blue growth" is funded by the Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Program 2014 - 2020, DBFP № BG14MFOP001-6.004-0007-C01 / MDR-IR -01-237 / 14.12.2020, duration - 24 months.

/2021-03-05/