Environmental Data collection The Black Sea Commission within The Black Sea Commission 3rd meeting of the UNECE Joint Task Force on Environmental Indicators Geneva, July 11-13, 2011 Volodymyr Myroshnychenko, Project Expert Permanent Secretariat Commission on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution www.blacksea-commission.org

Content Legal framework Institutional framework Monitoring Reporting Challenges & future plans

Black Sea environmental problems

Black Sea Enclosed water body Large catchment Unique ecosystem The surface area of the Black Sea is 423,000 km2. The sea’s greatest width is 1,200 km, it contains a total volume of 547,000 km3 of water and has a maximum depth of 2,212 m.

Regional Environmental Problems Eutrophication/Nutrient Enrichment Chemical Pollution, including Oil Changes in Marine Living Resources, Overfishing Biodiversity Changes/Habitats Loss, including Alien Species Introduction Climate Change

(Source: GIWA, “Eutrophication in the Black Sea region”, 2005) The Black Sea is known to be one of the marine water bodies most affected by eutrophication in the world. Eutrophication is a complex process, which occurs both in fresh and marine waters, where excessive development of certain types of algae disturbs the aquatic ecosystems and becomes a threat for animal and human health. The primary cause of eutrophication is an excessive concentration of plant nutrients originating from agriculture or sewage treatment. The enrichment of water by nutrients can be of natural origin, but it is often dramatically increased by human activities. This occurs almost everywhere in the world. There are three main sources of anthropogenic nutrient input: runoff , erosion and leaching from fertilised agricultural areas, and sewage from cities and industrial wastewater. Atmospheric deposition of nitrogen (from animal breeding and combustion gases and coals) can also be important. Eutrophication levels in the Black Sea (hypertrophic – red, eutrophic – orange, mesotrophic – yellow and blue). (Source: GIWA, “Eutrophication in the Black Sea region”, 2005)

The major consequence of eutrophication concerns the availability of oxygen. Plants, through photosynthesis, produce oxygen in daylight. On the contrary, in darkness all animals and plants, as well as aerobic microorganisms and decomposing dead organisms, respire and consume oxygen. These two competitive processes are dependent on the development of the biomass. In the case of severe biomass accumulation, the process of oxidation of the organic matter that has formed into sediment at the bottom of the water body will consume all the available oxygen. Thus, eutrophication was in 80-th and 90-th so strong that it caused temporary hypoxia events on the sea bottom that resulted to the mass mortality of benthic animals in the relatively shallow northeastern Black Sea. In the year 2000, the total area exposed to hypoxia reached 14 thousand km2 (38 % of the area of the northwestern shelf). This is much less than the 1983 figures when more than 50 % of the northwestern shelf of the Black Sea was exposed to hypoxia.

Algal blooms Odessa Bay Dneper-Bug liman Nodularia spumigena – toxic blue-green algae (biomas 8 kg*m-3). Microcystis aeruginosa – blue-green algae Dneper-Bug liman Odessa Bay Nodularia spumigena Microcystis aeruginosa Spirulina laxissima The main cause of eutrophication is the large input of nutrients to a water body and the main effect is the imbalance in the food web that results in high levels of phytoplankton biomass in stratified water bodies. This can lead to algal blooms. Eutrophication is commonly linked to algal blooms, “red tides”, “green tides”, fish kills, inedible shellfish, blue algae and public health threats. Ref: Presentation of chair of AG CBD Dr. Alexandrov at BSC-23 meeting, Jan 2011

Total petroleum hydrocarbons Total suspended solids Chemical pollution Mean concentrations of selected parameters in water of the Black Sea, 2000-2005 (TDA 2007) Total petroleum hydrocarbons Total suspended solids Dissolved copper Color Dissolved copper (µg/l) Total petroleum hydrocarbons (mg/l) Total suspended solids (mg/l)   <1.000 <0.018 <1.550 >1.001-2.667 >0.018-0.020 >1.550-4.194 >2.667-3.000 >0.020-0.050 >4.194-8.031 >3.000-13.346 >0.050-0.180 >8.031-14.853 >13.346 >0.180 >14.853 White color corresponds to background level Dark-green approximately corresponds to concentration exceeding background levels 2-3 folds

Land Based Sources of Pollution River loads Industrial discharges Municipal discharges Atmospheric deposition

Vulnerability of the Black Sea Due to large catchment area as compared to its own area, the Black Sea is very vulnerable to pressure from land based human activities and its health is equally dependent from the coastal and non-coastal states of its basin. Due to the same reason Black Sea is vulnerable to climate change. Black Sea catchment Strong currents of the Black Sea is an important factor in transporting of dissolved substances, floating matter, and living organisms throughout the sea thereby causing transboundary dissemination of pollution, invasive species, marine litter etc. An important feature of the Black Sea is an unusually high river discharge into the relatively small semi-enclosed Sea. The Black Sea drainage basin covers almost a third of Europe; the largest river is Danube flowing through 10 European countries. The Black Sea catchment (BSC) includes 23 countries with a total surface of 2’414’691 square kilometers. Seven countries have more than 90 % of their surface included in the catchment. The population for the whole catchment calculated using the global dataset “Landscan” (Budhendra et al., 2002) for the year 2007 is approximately of 183 millions of persons. The total area of the drainage basin of Azov Sea is approximately 570,000 km2. Black Sea currents

Need for regional approach Sea possess no physical borders! Most marine problems are transboundary and require collective action Environment, the easiest area of cooperation

Legal framework

Bucharest Convention In April 1992 six Black Sea countries (Bulgaria, Georgia, Romania, Russian Federation, Turkey and Ukraine) signed and shortly thereafter ratified the Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) with its (three) integrated protocols. Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Black Sea countries have started to co-operate on a regional level in promoting sustainable use of transboundary water and living resources. Signed in April 1992 in Bucharest, Romania The Convention on the Protection of the Black Sea Against Pollution (Bucharest Convention) with its (three) integral protocols is the basic framework of agreement between the coastal Black Sea countries for marine and coastal environment of the Black Sea Bulgaria Georgia Romania Russian Federation Turkey Ukraine

Protocols to the Convention Protocol on the Protection of the Black Sea Marine Environment against Pollution from Land Based Sources (1992) Protocol on Cooperation in combating pollution of the Black Sea Marine Environment by Oil and Other Harmful Substances (Emergency Protocol) Protocol on the Protection of the Marine Environment Against Pollution by Dumping Black Sea Biodiversity and Landscape Conservation Protocol Protocol on the Protection of the Marine Environment of the Black Sea from Land-Based Sources and Activities (2009)

Obligations of Contracting Parties General obligation: to prevent, reduce and control the pollution in the Black Sea in order to protect and preserve the marine environment and to provide legal framework for co-operation and concerted actions to fulfill this obligation. To protect the biodiversity and the marine living resources; To provide framework for scientific and technical co-operation and monitoring activities.

Obligations of Contracting Parties (2) In particular, to prevent pollution: by hazardous substances or matter; from hazardous wastes in transboundary movement and the illegal traffic thereof To prevent, reduce and control the pollution: from land-based sources; from vessels; resulting from emergency situations; by dumping; caused by or connected with activities on the continental shelf, including exploration and exploitation of natural resources; from or through the atmosphere; Article XV Scientific and technical cooperation and monitoring 1. The Contracting Parties shall cooperate in conducting scientific research aimed at protecting and preserving the marine environment of the Black Sea and shall undertake, where appropriate, joint programmes of scientific research, and exchange relevant scientific data and information. 5. The Contracting Parties shall, inter alia, establish through the Commission and, where appropriate, in cooperation with international organizations they consider to be competent, complementary or joint monitoring programmes covering all sources of pollution and shall establish a pollution monitoring system for the Black Sea including, as appropriate, programmes as bilateral or multilateral level for observing, measuring, evaluating and analyzing the risks or effects of pollution of the marine environment of the Black Sea.

The Strategic Action Plan for the Rehabilitation and Protection of the Black Sea Signed on October 31, 1996 (commemorated as the Black Sea Day) Adopted by all Black Sea countries Updated in 2009 Ecosystem approach Thus measures are needed at two levels: (1) Local regulations within a defined “conservation area”, and (2) Wider regulations to limit threats from the outside. Quite often the local regulations are within national boundaries whereas the wider regulations require international co-operation. This is why the Black Sea Action Plan is so important. It provides a mechanism for enabling conservation measures irrespective of national boundaries.

SAP-1996: Assessment and monitoring of pollutants A Black Sea Monitoring System, based upon biological effects measurements and measurements of key contaminants, will be established in compliance with the Bucharest Convention. A “State of Pollution of the Black Sea” report will be prepared and published every five years, beginning 2006. It will be based on the data collected through the coordinated pollution monitoring and assessment programmes. Data regarding actual and assessed contaminant discharge measurements for point sources, rivers, and, where possible, diffuse sources, shall be compiled and freely exchanged beginning 2002 on an annual basis. It is advised that the Advisory Group Control of Pollution from Land Based Sources make these compilations in future. SAP-2009: Develop/improve the existing monitoring system to provide comparable data sets for pollutant loads (from direct discharges and river inputs) and for other parameters. Strategic Action Plan for the Environmental Protection and Rehabilitation of the Black Sea SAP 2009. (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.

SAP Ecosystem Quality Objectives EcoQO 1 Preserve commercial marine living resources through: Sustainable use of commercial fish stocks and other marine living resources Restore/rehabilitate stocks of commercial marine living resources EcoQO 2 Conservation of Black Sea Biodiversity and Habitats through: Reduce the risk of extinction of threatened species Conserve coastal and marine habitats and landscapes Reduce and manage human mediated species introductions   EcoQO 3 Reduce eutrophication through: Reduce nutrients originating from land based sources, including atmospheric emissions. EcoQO 4. Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota through: Reduce pollutants originating from land based sources, including atmospheric emissions. Reduce pollutants originating from shipping activities and offshore installations

SAP Ecosystem Quality Objectives EcoQO 3 Reduce eutrophication through: Reduce nutrients originating from land based sources, including atmospheric emissions EcoQO 4. Ensure Good Water Quality for Human Health, Recreational Use and Aquatic Biota through: Reduce pollutants originating from land based sources, including atmospheric emissions. Reduce pollutants originating from shipping activities and offshore installations

Institutional Framework

Black Sea Commission Intergovernmental body for promoting the implementation of the provisions of Bucharest Convention, its protocols and Strategic Action Plan The regional focal point for any aspects of the coastal and marine environment of the Black Sea Made up of 6 Commissioners (one for each coastal country) and a chairman` Chairmanship for one year and rotates between coastal countries All environmental problems to be consulted with BSC

BSC Structure

SAP implementation Conducted by countries Regional monitoring program Annual reporting to BSC Periodical assessment (5 years) State of Environment Report Assessment of SAP implementation and SAP revision

MONITORING

Black Sea Integrated Monitoring and Assessment Programme (BSIMAP) Implemented since 2001. Build on established national monitoring programmes Operational Last version of BSIMAP was adopted in 2006. The BSIMAP is addressed to the main transboundary environmental problems in the Black Sea region: eutrophication, water pollution and water quality, biodiversity change and decline, habitats destruction.

BSIMAP Goals The main purpose of the BSIMAP is to provide data for the state of the environment (SOE) reporting, impact assessments of major pollutant sources, and for transboundary diagnostic analysis (TDA). BSIMAP seeks to maximize the use of historical data from previously established monitoring sites for trend analysis, supported by new additional sites to improve the assessment of the current chemical/ecological status of the Black Sea. The sites, parameters and monitoring frequencies also reflect data requirements for compliance with relevant national and international legislation and agreements.

BSIMAP Pollution Monitoring Network

Monitoring network: spatial coverage Territorial waters Pollution Hot Spots Sampling Sites Coastline (km) Average distance (km) represented per sampling site Bulgaria 9 5 300 60 Georgia 6 310 62 Romania 21 (9 transects) 225 25 Russian Federation 4 475 95 Turkey 10 63 (21 transects) 1400 66 Ukraine 14 1628 116

National institutions involved Bulgaria Regional laboratories in Varna and Burgas Georgia Environment Pollution Monitoring Department, MoEP Romania National Institute for Marine Research & Development; Water Directorate Dobrogea Litoral – Constanta Russian Federation Socchi Hydrometeorological Centre, Tuapse Roshydromet Monitoring Laboratory, Southern Branch of SIO RAS Turkey MoEF, Istanbul University Ukraine UkrSCES , State Ecological Inspection of the North-West region of the Black Sea (MENR) GE: Ministry of Environment Protection UA: Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Ukraine

BSIMAP monitoring requirements Sampling media: water Parameters: nutrients, oxygen, physical & chemical parameters, petroleum hydrocarbons, suspended solids Frequency: 4 times per year Sampling media: sediments Parameters: organic contaminants, heavy metals Frequency: 1 time per year Why it is important to monitor sediments The water as sampling media is very changeable. If hazardous substance will get somewhere into water it will be quickly dissolved in water masses and transported to other location with sea currents. So localization of pollution sources on base of sea water analysis is rather difficult. On the other hand, sediments and biota accumulate contaminants, so it is possible not only identify both areas affected by pollution and parameters of exposure to pollution. Sampling media: biota Parameters: organic contaminants, heavy metals Frequency: 1 time per year

BSIMAP monitoring requirements (1) Problem: Eutrophication. Sampling media: Water Mandatory parameters Frequency Optional parameters T° 4 pH (site-specific)   Salinity BOD5 (site-specific) O2 (saturation and dissolved) TOC TSS (filter 0.45 µm) H2S Secchi P (PO4) P total N (NH4) N (NO3) N (NO2) N, Total SiO4

BSIMAP monitoring requirements (2) Problem: Pollution. Sampling media: Water Mandatory parameters Frequency Optional parameters Oil pollution   TPH (Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons) 4 Oil slicks Heavy Metals Cd 1 Fe Cu Zn Hg Cr, Co Pb Mn, Ni Pesticides, Phenols Detergents PAHs, PCBs 137Cs, 90Sr , Tr

BSIMAP monitoring requirements (3) Problem: Pollution. Sampling media: Sediments Mandatory parameters Frequency Optional parameters Particle size 1 Granulometry Description of BS Calcination losses Cd, Cu, Hg, Pb Al, Co, Cr, Fe, Ni, Zn DDT, DDD, DDE TOC Lindane P total PCBs Phenols Hydrocarbons Total 137Cs, 90Sr PAHs Total radioactivity

BSIMAP monitoring requirements (4) Problem: Contamination of Biota Media: Bivalves, Anchovies, Sprat, Turbot, Horse mackerel - meat Mandatory parameters Optional parameters Cd Phenols Cu Co Hg Zn Pb Fe DDT Ni DDD Cr DDE PAHs Lindane Cs PCBs Tr Sr Total radioactivity

BSIMAP monitoring requirements (5) Problem: response of biodiversity on pollution and destruction of habitats. Sampling media: Biota Mandatory parameters Frequency Chl a 4 Phytoplankton Mesozooplankton Biomass of Noctiluca Macrophytobenthos 1 Macrozoobenthos Fish landing (annually) Fish stocks (optional, annually)

Mean concentrations of selected parameters in sediments Chemical pollution Mean concentrations of selected parameters in sediments of the Black Sea, 1996-2005 (TDA 2007) Hexachlorocyclohexanes

Monitoring of pressures: BSIMAP LBS component Complementary to the Pollution Monitoring, the BSIMAP LBS component includes monitoring of pollution loads from LBS, including: River discharges Industrial discharges Municipal (WWTP) discharges The emphasis is given to the Pollution Hot Spots.

Hot spots

Parameters BOD5 Total Nitrogen (TN) Total Phosphorus (TP) Total Suspended Solids (TSS) Flow (Q) Heavy metals Total Petroleum Hydrocarbons

Reporting

Reporting Who: National Focal Points / Members of Advisory Groups What: Different parameters of the Black Sea ecosystem state, pressures, impacts, measures, changes in legislation/policy, programs, investments, etc. PMA (pollution in water, sediments, biota) LBS (pollution loads) CBD (phyto- and zoo-plankton, conservation status…) ESAS (ship traffic, oil spilled during accidents, fines…) ICZM (state of the coast and management) FOMLR (stocks, landings, fishing fleet, measures…) When: annually (in Autumn), data for previous year How: in standardized formats

Users: scientists, decision-makers, public Data flow Implementing agencies and laboratories National ministries and agencies BSC focal points BSC PS BSIS (Black Sea Information System) Users: scientists, decision-makers, public Standardized format

Analysis of official data reporting

Usage of monitoring data & information Transboundary diagnostic analysis State of Environment reporting (SoE) Impact assessments of major pollutant sources Monitoring data & information BSIS Assesment of SAP implementation and SAP revision Trend analysis GIS, mapping

State of Environment Report 2006/7 More than 60 scientists involved 12 chapters addressed to different environmental problems as well as socio-economic pressures and impact Last chapter – overall assessment of the state of the Black Sea Ecosystem An assessment of the state of the Black Sea ecosystem, recently carried out by scientists and experts for the BSC shows a steady improvement of the marine ecosystems during the last years in comparison to previous periods of investigations.

Challenges, Recommendations, Future Plans

Challenges (monitoring) Gaps in countries’ monitoring programs: the monitoring is mainly not integrated. Mandatory parameters are often not covered Recommended frequency of observations is not always observed Difference in sampling and sample analysis techniques Different approach in assessment of environmental status Pure coordination between responsible authorities Insufficient financial support of monitoring

Challenges (reporting) Gaps in data availability (i.e. data have not been collected due to some reasons) Gaps in data reporting (i.e. data are available in the country but due to lack of inter-agency coordination did not became available to AG members for including in reports) Insufficient data for indicator-based assessment (datasets are not consistent) Insufficient time-series data for trend analysis

Data availability & needs in details Indicator group Indicators/Parameters In BSIS Outside BSIS Eutrophication Nutrients Y Chl-a (in-situ) limited Transparency Hypoxia (dis. oxygen) Alga blooms Macroalgae Contamination Concentrations in sea water -:- in biota - -:- in sediments Biological effects not considered yet Biodiversity Species composition (zooplankton, phytoplankton, benthos, fish, seagrass) Population abundance & biomass Non-indigenous species Y*

Major targets in improvement of monitoring Strengthening of existing program: mandatory parameters covered, monitoring frequencies observed Further harmonization – to meet requirement of new SAP and LBS protocol, common understanding of Good Environmental Status (GES) and indicators, further development of guidelines, inter-comparison exercises, etc. Improving the “List of Black Sea-specific priority pollutants” Standardization of sampling and sample analysis techniques Proper geographical coverage, networks development Sustain stations and transects with long-terms observations Sustainable quality control and assurance

Supporting activities Utilization of the capacities of all Institutes dealing with monitoring in the region Avoiding overlapping of activities and efforts Partnership with international organizations – EEA, IMO, ESA, EMSA, HELCOM, utilizing their experience Capacity building – regular trainings, bringing BAP to the region, strengthening the collaboration between different authorities engaged in monitoring Sharing data and metadata. Further development of BSIS to make its data and metadata services accessible online, and to make sure that the special information needs of stakeholders are met. (which is in line with INSPIRE directive) The work carried out within the BS monitoring should be transparent.

Near-term tasks Development of the Regional Database on Pollution with GIS based Web interface providing public access to metadata and data products (maps, charts) Elaboration of the Black Sea reference and target concentration levels of eutrophication parameters Elaboration of a regional methodology on identification of water quality classes for eutrophication Development of implementation plan on setting up a modelling tool, linking pollutants triggering eutrophication in the Black Sea with requirements for reducing input of nutrients, including riverine loads Such modeling tool will require data of water quality not only in the sea but also in rivers of the Black Sea catchment in order to identify drivers and their contribution into pollution of the Black Sea. This is one of areas of possible future cooperation with JTF of UNECE.

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