As part of the European Maritime Day initiatives, a one-day seminar, titled “The Future of the Sea,” was held on 20 May 2021 at the Flora Exhibition Center. It was organized by the Via Pontica Foundation with the support of Burgas Municipality.
The forum provided scientists, experts and local leaders with an opportunity to engage in an interesting discussion and outline future horizons for actions aiming to safeguard the Black Sea resources as well as to protect the sea from pollution by solid marine waste. The topics discussed at the previous edition of the forum, held in 2018, gave rise to proactive participation of all stakeholders in the current edition, in order to exchange information and suggestions for future activities.
The opening greetings at the seminar were delivered by the Chairman of the Municipal Council of Burgas Prof. Dr. Sevdalina Turmanova, Head of the Regional Academic Center of BAS and Vesna Baltina – Deputy Mayor for Strategic Development and Ecology, Digitalization and Adaptation to Climate Problems in Burgas Municipality.
“This day, dedicated to the sea and its celebration, aims to raise public awareness of the importance of the sea and the maritime industry. Our Black Sea is undoubtedly not only a very important resource, but also a sensitive ecosystem. It is part of our culture, part of our perspectives for the development of sustainable tourism, maritime activities and fisheries. It is very important to have common preservation policies. Our efforts must be well planned, aimed at building ecological infrastructure and the formation of a culture that will be recognized by the Black Sea municipalities” said Deputy Mayor Baltina during the seminar.
Prof. Dr. Sevdalina Turmanova, Chairman of the Municipal Council of Burgas, Head of the Regional Academic Center of BAS and a lecturer at the University “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” reported on the project “Increasing knowledge of the marine environment for sustainable management of marine resources and achieving blue growth”, aimed at creating a scientific database of types of floating waste in marine waters and on the seabed in areas with increased anthropogenic pressure, development of classification and evaluation, which will contribute to improving knowledge of the marine environment, increasing the commitment and responsibility for the protection of the marine environment, improving the state of the marine environment by introducing measures to reduce waste at sea and the possibility for sustainable management and development of natural resources in the Burgas Bay.
Prof. Dr. Marusya Lyubcheva from the Black Sea Institute Association, Burgas, discussed the topic “Blue Dimension of the Green Deal in Bulgaria”, emphasizing that the Blue Economy is an integral part of the EU Green Deal. She added that the new approach to the Blue Economy includes support for coastal communities and a European decarbonisation strategy. The new approach to a sustainable blue economy will complement the other components of the European Green Deal.
Maya Ruseva, Director of the Strategic Planning Directorate in Burgas Municipality presented the project “Implementation of measures to reduce marine litter in the Burgas Bay”, funded by the Program “Environmental Protection and Climate Change (OOSKP) of the Financial Mechanism of the European Economic Area (EEA FM) 2014-2021. The main goal of the project is to improve the ecological status of the sea waters in the Burgas Bay and to increase the public awareness, self-awareness and responsibility of the citizens for the reduction and prevention of marine litter.
A further presentation on the project “Cross-border regions cooperate for blue growth” (BLUE GROWTH COLLABs), funded by the Interreg Program – IPA for cross-border cooperation Bulgaria – Turkey 2014-2020 was made by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Svetlana Jeleva, Deputy Dean for Research in “Prof. Asen Zlatarov” University in Burgas. Regarding the implementation of the project “Prof. Dr. Asen Zlatarov” University in Burgas is in a partnership agreement with the Thracian University in Edirne to establish research centers for blue growth in the cross-border region, with initiatives for cooperation of research institutions in the field of environmental protection, pollution reduction, sustainable water ecosystems management and efficient use of marine and water resources.
The afternoon panel of the seminar was opened with a report on “National Waste Management Policies”, presented by Detelina Ivanova, Director of the Regional Inspectorate for Environment and Water, Burgas. The report included analysis and evaluation of legislation, programming documents and policies in the Waste Management sector.
Other scientists and experts joined the discussion, presenting interesting and valuable data and results from studies of the Black Sea. All materials from the event will be available soon on the project website www.redmarlitter.eu
The event was organized by the Via Pontica Foundation and Burgas Municipality under the project “Innovative techniques and methods for reducing marine litter in the coastal areas of the Black Sea” – BSB552 “RedMarLitter”, implemented under the Black Sea Basin Program 2014-2020.
22.06.2021
ECO-INITIATIVE WITH A RESULT! MORE THAN 30 DIVERS PULLED OUT OF THE SEABED HEAPS OF PLASTIC JUNK AND A BOTTLE OF WINE NEAR ST. ANASTASIA ISLAND!
The Impressive eco-initiative for cleaning the seabed near the island of St. Anastasia attracted over 30 divers from all over the country. The action was organized by Burgas Municipality of and NGO “Friends of the Sea”. Divers from Plovdiv, Sofia, Shumen and Varna also took part.
Despite the tremendous care that has been taken in recent years to protect the environment, divers removed from the seabed off the island plastic cups, bottles and other small household waste and a bottle of wine of unknown vintage.
The eco action is in partnership with Burgas Municipality under the project “Implementation of measures to reduce marine litter in the Burgas Bay”, which is implemented in partnership with the “Chance for Children and Nature of Bulgaria” Foundation and the NGO “The Blue Army” from Iceland. The project is funded under the Program “Environmental Protection and Climate Change” of the EEA FM 2014-2021.
The project activities aim to improve the ecological status of the sea waters in the Burgas Bay and increase the public awareness, self-awareness and responsibility of the citizens for the reduction and prevention of marine litter.
Нова новина от 01.08.2021: https://www.burgas.bg/bg/novini/moreto-si-otdahna-s-polovin-ton-otpadatsi-sred-nay-atraktivnite-nahodki-koito-izvadiha-vodolazite-kray-mosta-sa-dron-mobilni-telefoni
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01.08.2021
THE SEA RESTED FROM HALF A TON OF WASTE! THE MOST ATTRACTIVE FINDINGS THAT DIVERS HAVE DRAWN AROUND THE BURGAS BRIDGE WERE A DRONE, MOBILE PHONES, HOME APPLIANCES
Nearly half a ton of waste was removed from the seabed by divers by the Friends of the Sea NGO” on Sunday, 1 August. The eco initiative was organized by Burgas Municipality.
The spectacular action involved 20 divers – men and women. For a few hours, they removed an impressive quantity of iron, glass and plastic. Among the most attractive finds are a drone, mobile phones, a handmade knife with a leather case, branded sunglasses, a hair clipper, as well as car tires, vases, bottles, bricks and more.
The waste collected during the campaign was transported and disposed of.
The eco initiative is part of the Burgas Municipality project “Implementation of measures to reduce marine litter in the Burgas Bay”, which is implemented in partnership with the “Chance for Children and Nature of Bulgaria” Foundation and the NGO “The Blue Army” from Iceland.
The project is funded under “Environmental Protection and Climate Change” Program of the EEA FM 2014-2021. The project activities aim to improve the ecological status of the sea waters in the Burgas Bay and increase the public awareness, self-awareness and responsibility of the citizens for the reduction and prevention of marine litter.
