Stela Barova, senior expert, “Marine environmental protection and Monitoring” Department, “Plans and Permits” Directorate State of play of MSFD implementation process in Bulgaria Regional coordination and coherence Оther projects related to MSFD PoMs MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT AND WATERS BLACK SEA BASIN DIRETORATE - VARNA

 Developed and reported in 2013  Developed in 2014, reported in 2015 In preparation MSFD cycle of implementation

There are partially good GES related to descriptors: 1- Biodiversity, 3 - Commercial fishes, 5 – Eutrophication and 7 – Hydrographical conditions, but for the other descriptors are missing definitions, or are not well developed. Findings in the assessment of the European Commission for Bulgaria

D1,4,6 – Biodiversity-seabed habitats D1,4 – Biodiversity – pelagic habitats D1,4 – Biodiversity – fishes D1,4 – Biodiversity – marine mamals D1,4 – Biodiversity – birds D2 – Non-indigenous species D3 – Commercial fishes D5 – Eutrophication D7 – Hydrographical conditions D8 – Contaminants D9 – Contaminants in fish and other seafood D10 – Marine litter D11 – Underwater noise Coordinated with Romania Monitoring Programs – MSFD art. 11 Reported to EC - January, 2015 or Results:

Activities aimed at filling the gaps in MSFD implementation Activities aimed at filling the gaps in MSFD implementation Ongoing projects - period of implementation I.“Investigations on the State of the Marine Environment and Improving Monitoring Programs developed under the MSFD – ISMEIMP” Project goals: Filling the gaps - Descriptors 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and proposals for improving the monitoring programs on all descriptors, based on additional gathered data and information in the scope of this and related two planned projects and other surveys / projects realized after the initial assessment in II. “Improved Monitoring of Marine Waters – IMAMO” Project goals: Filling the gaps for the content of chemical contaminants and nutrients in water, sediment and biota in coastal, territorial waters and EEZ of Bulgaria and the distance from achieving GES regarding Descriptors 8, 9 and part of 10. III. “MARine Litter, Eutrophication and Noise Assessment tools - MARLEN” Project goals: Increase the scientific and administrative capacity for assessing and predicting environmental status in Black sea marine waters - studies for better understanding of Marine Litter, Eutrophication and Underwater Noise.

Partially filling the existing shortage of data on the marine environment; On the base of the conducted investigations: - Further development of the GES definitions on the particular descriptors, - actualization / precise the targets, - development or validation of indicators to achieve the targets or to determine the distance from GES. Improved monitoring programs, acc. to MSFD art. 11; more coordinated, respectively. effective and efficient planning of the monitoring programs; Supporting the planning of programs of measures under Art. 13 of the MSFD to achieve and maintain GES. Expected results

Stage of development of the program of measures I. Existing Measures  Generalized are the existing measures under WFD, related to coastal waters – from RBMP;  Conducted analysis of the effect of the implementation of measures in the RBMPs on coastal waters  Sent invitations to the competent authorities to provide information on existing measures related to the implementation of the MSFD.  Conducted initial analysis of of the stage in which the existing measures cover various pressures and to which descriptors are they linked. Summarized conclusions  A lower percentage in the progress of implementation the measures included in the RBMP. Reasons: - Luck of funding. - Not taking responsibility and recognition of some of the measures by the responsible authorities. Result: Positive effect of the implementation of the measures has been observed only in 4 of 13 designated water bodies in coastal waters.  It is necessary a refinement and clarification of some of the existing measures.

ІІ. New Measures In process of planning are new measures, based on: - Analysis of the effect of the implementation of measures in the RBMP related to coastal waters; - Analysis of the degree of coverage of the various pressures of the existing measures; - In the scope of a EU project – phase II are in process of discussion joint or coordinated measures between Bulgaria and Romania Stage of development of the program of measures

 supplementing the list of measures integrated with the update of the WFD PoMs;  adoption at national level of the developed reporting sheets for the Programs of Measures;  consultation with stakeholders and the public the scope of the Program of Measures;  Strategic Ecological Assessment of the Program of Measures;  consultation of the draft Program of Measures and the Ecological Assessment with stakeholders and the public – November, 2015  Approval of the Program of Measures by the Council of Ministers. PoMs: what lies ahead?

Project “Implementation of the Marine Strategy Framework Directive (MSFD) in Bulgaria – Development of Programs of Measures under Article 13” Project objectives: Facilitating the establishment of national programmes of measures in time for reporting to the EU Commission by end of March Providing advisory assistance to the Black sea Basin Directorate (BSBD) on developing concepts, procedures and methodologies, including approaches to regional coordination, based on German experiences with those actions as well as on EU requirements and guidance documents. Accompanying and advising the Bulgarian persons responsible during the implementation of the programs of measures until the beginning of 2017.

Project Tasks To develop a specific guidance document that will serve as a basis for the preparation of programmes of measures pursuant to Art. 13 MSFD in Bulgaria; To advise the Bulgarian administration on the implementation of programmes of measures through 2017; To organize workshops and working groups; To facilitate capacity building in Bulgaria through the exchange of knowledge between experts from Bulgaria and Germany, as well as Romania.

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